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FROM    THE   LIBRARY    OF 

REV.    LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,   D.  D. 

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PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY 


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BISHOP  WHITE'S  OPINIONS. 


"  Angels  and  living  saints,  and  dead, 
But  one  communion  make : 
All  join  in  CHRIST,  their  vital  Head, 
And  of  his  love  partake." 

Hymn  26:  5. 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  OPINIONS 


ON 


Certain   Ofolojjfcal  anD  Ecclesiastical  joints  ; 


be: 

t ^EPILATION    FROM   IHB  WRITINGS  AMD   IN    1 

WORDS  OF 

.      _.:.   Rev.   WM.       rHITB,   D.D  . 

SOMETIME    BUHOP   UP   PI  <IA. 


33n  a  J3rotcstant  Epfscopalfan. 


u^r/jdoLVuv  hi  "kaXsliaii. 
*  He  bein£  dead,  yet  speaketh." — Hcb.  xi.  4. 


NEW    yorkV> 

HENRY  M.  ONDERDONK  A.  CO^ 
B  fUl  M  AND  BOOKSELL  ITAKJ 

25  JOHN  STREET. 

184*. 


kJ  I 


Filtered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1346, 
by  Hknry  M.  Onderdonk,   in   the  Clerk's    Office 

.  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  New 
York. 


TO 

THE    YOUNGER 

OF 

THE    MEMBERS,   CLERICAL    AND    LAY, 

OP 
THE   PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH, 

THIS    COMPILATION 
1KOM     THE    WRITINGS    OF    THAT    GODLY    MAN 

AND    BISHOP, 

DOCTOR  WILLIAM  WHITE, 

IS 

INSCRIBED. 


"  A  respectable  old  friend  of  WASHINGTON,  whose 
patriotic  prayers  and  blessings  have,  in  this  Congress 
Hall,  been  associated  with  the  most  important  events  of 
the  Revolution." — Gen.  Lafayette's  description  »  t 
Bishop  White. —  Vide  Reply  to  Address,  fyc. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


This  compilation  seeks,  among  other  ends,  the  good  of 
a  generation  which  has  grown  up  since  our  Right 
Rev.  Fathers  in  God,  the  earlier  Bishops  of  the  Ame- 

ID  Church,  liave  gone  to  their  rest.  They  lived  in 
troublous  days,  and  did  the  work  of  (ion  right  man- 
fully :  it  is  not  meet  to  forget  them,  or  the  timet  when, 
if  the  venerable  Bishop  Moore,  ot  Virgin  *  The 

Altars  an»und  whiehour  fathers  kneeled,  were  destitute 
icerdotal  aid  ;  our  baptismal  fonts  were  levelled  with 
the  dust  :   there  Nil  no  pri  our  little  inno- 

cents into  covenant  with  God,  or  to  break  to  their 
disconsolate  parents  the  bread  of  life." 

That  the  present  generation  of  Churchmen  may 
study,  in  the  very  words  of  one  of  the  most  r»  1  of 

these  sainted  Prelates,  certain  points  of  Church  prin- 
ciples and  opinions,  and  may  learn,  by  Con's  help,  to 
emulate  the  purity  of  his  character,  and  to  attain  t<- 
the  charity  of  his  life,  so  that,  at  the  la>t.  they  may 
ternal  joy,  through    JESU8  CHRIST  OCR 

LORD, 

fa  the  humble  desire 

Of  their  brotl, 

THE  COMPILER, 

July,  1846. 

•  Char.  Bm.  p  tft 


AMERICAN  EPISCOPACY. 

Patriots  informed  with  Apostolic  light 

Were  they,  who,  when  their  country  had  been  freed, 

Bowing  with  reverence  to  the  ancient  creed, 
Fixed  on  the  frame  of  England's  Church  their  sight, 
And  strove  in  filial  love  to  re-unite 

What  force  had  severed.     Thence  they  fetched  the 
seed 

Of  Christian  unity,  and  won  a  meed 
Of  praise  from  Heaven.     To  thee,  O  saintly  White  ! 
Patriarch  of  a  wide-spreading  family, 

Remotest  lands  and  unborn  times  shall  turn, 
Whether  they  would  restore  or  build-— .to  thee, 

As  one  who  rightly  taught  how  zeal  should  bum, 

As  one  who  drew  from  out  faith's  holiest  urn 
The  purest  stream  of  patient  energy. 

Wm.  Wordsworth. 


Section  I. 
(Driginal  Sin. 

"  Behold   I  was  shapon  in  iniquity ;  and  in  sin  did 
my  mother  conceive  me." — Psalm  li.  5. 

"Mania  very  far  ^one  from  original  righteous] 
—Frm  Art.  IX 

u  The  Churchman  lavs  at  the  Inundation  of  his  faith 

and  practice  the  d^  the  corruption  of  human 

nature,  leading  to  those   actual  transnrr»'s.-ions   which 

ier  man  guilty  in  the  sight       ( ■  id  rendering 

unworthy  of  divine  acceptance   hi^  works." — Bp. 

Hjbart.    3d  charge,  p.  6. 

Q.  What  is  the  ground-work  of  the 
scheme  of  Redemption  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  ground- 
work of  the  whole  scheme  is  man's  loss 
of  his  original  righteousness;  that,  by 
way  of  remedy  of  this,  the  mediatorial 
character  of  Christ  involving  the  sacri- 
fice which  he  made  for  sin,  in  the  strict 

*  Con.  Ser.  1801,  p.  16. 


10        bishop  white's  opinions. 

and  proper  meaning  of  the  expressions  ; 
as  connected  with  every  branch  of  the 
subject,  his  divinity,  and  his  existence 
before  all  ages ;  and,  as  stamping  a  cha- 
racter on  the  entire  design,  its  being  a 
dispensation  of  grace,  meaning  of  grace 
or  favor  as  the  operating  motive  of  the 
divine  mind,  and  of  grace  or  aid  as  co- 
essential  to  man's  performance  of  the 
conditions  of  the  gospel  covenants,  are 
points  not  dependent  on  detached  pas- 
sages of  holy  writ,  but  pervading  all  its 
books." 

Q.  What  is  man's  state  by  nature  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  By  nature, 
he  is  ignorant  of  God  and  of  his  perfec- 
tions; and  without  ability  to  acquire 
right  conceptions  of  that  only  source  of 
religious  and  moral  obligation.  This  is 
not  the  worst ;  for  although  his  faculties, 


Sermon  on  Festival  of  H.  Innocents,  p.  7. 


BISHOP  white's  opinion-  1  I 

his    affections,    and    his   appetites    M 
wisely  suited   to  their  respective  end-. 
and  in  the  right  direction,  would  consti- 
tute him  a  perfect  being;  yet,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  weakness  of  intellect,  of 
the  strength  of  passion,  and   of  the  ex- 
citements of  temptations,  originating  ii 
his  wants ;  being  all  the  effects  of  the 
apostacy ;  we  have  within  us  the  ope- 
rating cause  of  every  irregular  desire, 
which  may  be  kept   within   limits  b\ 
prudential   considerations,    but    can  no 
otherwise  be  subdued,  than  by  the  pow- 
erful influence  of  divine  grace." 

Q.  What  is  the  effect  of  the  fall  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  As  the  effect 
of  the  fall  we  are  to  acknowledge  am 
teach  constantly,  that   all  right  to  im- 
mortality was  lost  in  Adam;  and  that, 
by  our  descent  from    him,  our  under- 

*  Comment,  p.  S  1 . 


12         bishop  white's  opnions. 

standings  become  darkened,  and  our 
wills  depraved ;  or,  as  the  9th  article 
speaks,  "  We  are  far  gone  from  original 
righteousness ;"  so  that,  without  the 
mercy  of  God,  through  Christ,  we  are 
amenable  to  his  justice  for  the  punish- 
ment of  sin  in  a  future  lile,  from  which 
nothing  in  or  of  ourselves  can  rescue  us." 


Section  JL 
(Df  tfjt  |3lan  o(  Sabation. 

"  Neither  is  their  salvation  in  any  other  ;  for  there  is 
none  other  name  under  heaven  given  among  men, 
whereby  we  must  be  saved." — The  Acts,iv.  12. 

"  Holy  Scripture  doth  set  out  unto  us  only  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ,  whereby  men  must  be  saved." — From 
Art.  XVIII. 

u  It  is  this  doctrine  of  justification  and  salvation  only 
through  the  free  grace  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ,  his 
divine  Lord  and  Redeemer,  which  the  Churchman 
daily  and  constantly  cherishes  as  the  only  solace  of  his 
wounded  conscience,  and  the  only  ground  on  which  he 
can  hope  for  acceptance  at  the  tribunal  of  his  Almighty 
Judge,  and  for  advancement  to  the  celestial  glories 


BISHOP  WHITE9!  OPINIONS.  13 

which  infinitely  transcend  the  merit  of  his  best  worKs." 
— lip.  JlobarL  .  p.  6. 

Q.  State  the  scheme  of  salvation, 
guarding  it  from  erroneous  statements  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "Every  scheme 
of  religion,    which    denies    the    divine 

character,  or  the  propitiatory  sacrifice 
of  the  Redeemer ;  or  which  represents 
man  in  any  other  character  than  that  of 
a  sinner,  needing  pardon  ;  or  which  ex- 
alts human  reason,  to  the  lowering  of 
the  estimation  of  divine  illumination  in 
the  Scriptures ;  or  which  creates  a  de- 
pendence on  our  own  strength,  to  the 
undervaluing  of  the  aids  of  the  Holy 
Spirit ;  or  which  arrogates  merit  to 
works,  to  the  detriment  of  the  merits  of 
the  great  sacrifice  of  the  cross ;  is  so 
far  wide  of  the  leading  sense  of  revela- 
tion, that  we  may  consider  it  as  "  a  fall 
from  grace. " 

*  Ordination  Scr.  1825,  p.  10. 


14         BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

Q.  May  the  righteousness  of  the  Re- 
deemer be  exhibited  in  a  false  form  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  By  men, 
who  were  incapable  of  intending  the  re- 
laxation of  moral  obligation,  the  righte- 
ousness of  the  Redeemer  has  been  exhi- 
bited in  such  a  form,  as  that  other  men, 
corrupt  in  their  views,  have,  by  strict 
deduction  from  the  premises  of  the  for- 
mer, denied  the  necessity  of  any  right- 
eousness, either  in  heart  or  in  practice. 
Their  loud  cry  is  of  a  finished  salvation, 
without  such  a  sequence.  This  is  the 
ground  of  the  strong  hold  of  the  Anti- 
nomians :  strong,  on  the  admission  of 
the  sufficiency  of  the  ground  ;  but  other- 
wise, as  unreal  as  the  "  baseless  fabric 
of  a  vision.55 

Q.  What  is  the  true  and  only  ground. 
of  acceptance  with  God  ?j 

*  Ord.  Ser.  1825,  p.  21. 


BISHOP  wiirn/s  opinion-.  15 

A.    Bishop  White    says,*  "  The    true 
.did  only   ground   of  acceptance   with 

is  the   i;i  of  our  Lord  and  Sa- 

i  iour  .1  (  rist,  through  the  sacrifice 
on  the  Cross;  all  merit,  on  the  part  oi' 
man,  being  utterly  excluded  and  de- 
nied." 


Section  III. 
Of  (!>oob  iUorks. 

Who  gave  himself  for  as,  that  he  might  rodoom 
a  all  iniquity,  and  purify  unto  himself  a  peculiar 

f>eopl«  if  good  works." — Tifus  L  14. 

I».  I         i  lively  faith  may  he  a  known, 

d by  the  fruit." — FY    n  Art*  XII. 

The  Chorchman  insists  on  the  ity  of  t! 

spiritual  change  d         I  in  Scripture  by  thai       ssanc- 

.'  ing  of  the  mind,  renewing  of  the  I! 
He  employs  no 

the  divin<         rit  in  his  soul, 
rs  which  aro  produced  there,  and 
whi  hihit  the  fruiU 

life." — li, .  II  barti 

*  Comp.  \  »1.  i.  p.  9( 


16         bishop  white's  opinions. 

Q.  What  is  the  end  0/  the  Gospel  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  whole 
end  of  the  Gospel  is  satisfied,  in  its 
bringing  of  men  to  "  live  soberly,  reli- 
giously, and  godly,  in  this  present 
world."  But  to  accomplish  this,  it 
must  be  taken  in  connexion  with  "  the 
grace  of  God,  that  bringeth  salvation." 
Thus,  the  whole  body  of  divine  truth  is 
addressed  to  us  as  sinful  beings,  who 
have  need  of  the  mercy  of  God  ;  and,  as 
frail  beings,  dependent  on  his  aids; 
and  who,  therefore,  will  not  be  mate- 
rially benefitted  by  a  scheme  of  instruc- 
tion, accommodated  to  a  grade  of  cha- 
racter of  which  they  feel  themselves  un- 
conscious." 

Q.  By  what  test  shall  we  know  that 
we  are  under  the  guidance  of  the  spirit  ? 

A.  Bishop  White   says,f  "  We   may 

*  Genl.  Semy.  Address,  1822,  p.  7. 
t  Sem.  Address,  1823,  p.  7, 


bishop  white's  opinions.  17 

know  it  exactly  in  proportion  as  it  is 
discoverable  in  holy  habits,  manifesting 
themselves  in  holy  actions." 

Q.  What  obligation  lies  on  every  one 
who  looks  for  salvation  through  Christ  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  There  lies 
on  every  one,  who  looks  for  salvation 
through  Christ,  the  obligation  of  making 
a  profession  of  his  name ;  which  can  be 
done  only  in  the  ordinances  of  his  ap- 
pointment." 


Section  IV. 
(Df  (Jruanqcltsm  ic  (frnangclical  J3rcacl)ing. 

"But  watch  thou  in  all  things,  endure  afflictions,  do 
the  work  of  an  Evangelist^  make  full  proof  of  thy 
ministry." — 2  Tun.  iv.  5. 

"  It  (Kvan.  d)  properly  denotes  those  who  preach 
in  all  rec  bctrinefl  of  the  gospel,  which  are 

emphatically  '  good  tiding.'  " — Up.  llubart,\th  charge, 

p.  9. 

*  Cons.  Ser.  1809,  p.  33. 


18         bishop  white's  opinions. 

Q.  What  are  the  various  meanings  at- 
tached to  "  Evangelism"  or  Evangelical 
doctrines  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  With  some 
it  comprehends  such  views  of  the  sove- 
reignty of  God,  as  are  inconsistent  with 
what  our  Church  affirms  of,  '  the  obla- 
tion of  Christ  for  the  sins  of  the  whole 
world.5  '  In  the  notions  of  others,  it  is 
connected  with  such  an  excitement  of 
animal  sensibility,  as  we  have  no  in- 
stance of  in  the  Bible,  except  in  what  is 
recorded  of  the  issue  joined  between  Eli- 
jah and  the  Priests  of  Baal.  And,  in 
some  instances,  there  has  been  a  subser- 
viency to  the  purposes  of  party,  for  the 
making  of  inroads  on  the  institutions  of 
our  Church.  So  far  as  the  present 
speaker  can  judge  from  his  own  observa- 
tion, and  from  his  reading  in  the  eccle- 

*  Genl.  Sem.  Address,  1822,  p.  6, 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  OPINIONS.  19 

*i;}        tl  histori        f  tlio  Cliurch  of  Ei 
land,  1.        ver   honorable  the  epithet  of 

evangelical  in  the  proper  sense  of  the 

word,  yet,  when  applied  to  the  purposes 
of  party,  it  has  a  tendency  to  reconcile 
the  conscience  to  any  expedients,  how- 
ever   contrary   to       od   morals,  which 

may  seem  conducive  to  what  may  per- 
haps he  esteemed  the  cause  of  gospel 
truth.'  Whatever  may  be  the  degree  of 
weight  to  which  this  expression  of  opi- 
nion may  be  tl  Jit  entitled,  it  is  the 
more  solicitously  delivered,  in  conse- 
quence of  having  known  some  who  have 
begun  with  upright  views  in  the  path 
now  cautioned  against,  and  have  gra- 
dually settled  down,  if  not  in  known  hy- 
pocrisy, yet  in  a  i  of  coir. 
and  conduct,  nec<  y  for  the  main- 
ining  of  consistency,  but  not  suffici- 
ently distant  from  the  pharis       J  el 


20        bishop  white's  opinions* 

racter  held  out  to  our  disapprobation^  in 
the  Gospel." 

Q.  Are  there  false  definitions  of  evan- 
gelical preaching  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  That  with 
some  the  idea  of  evangelical  preaching 
comprehends  much  abstract  speculation ; 
so  that  let  there  be  acknowledged,  ever 
so  explicitly,  man's  unworthiness  in 
himself,  and  his  entire  dependence  on 
divine  grace,  yet  shall  he  be  deemed  a 
denier  of  it ;  unless  he  acknowledge  a 
series  of  metaphysical  refinements,  not 
found  in  the  Scriptures,  but  engrafted  on 
the  stock  of  Christianity,  by  the  over- 
curious  inventions  of  men.  In  this  re- 
spect, professed  zeal  for  evangelical 
preaching  is  merely  specious  and  im* 
posing;  confounding  it  with  some  sys- 

*  Con.  Ser.  1811,  p.  21. 


BISHOP  white's  opinions.  2  1 

tern  that  has  more  in  it  of  philosophy 
than  of  Christianity;  there  being  here 
understood,  by  the  former  term,  what  St. 
Paul  understood  when  housed  it  with  the 

planatory  addition,  'falsely  so  called. '" 
Again  :  Bishop  White  says,  "To  some 
ears,  nothing  short  of  Calvinism  comes 
under  the  character  of  evangelical  preach- 
ing; while  again  t<  me,  a  sermon  ap- 
proaches to  the  proper  standard  in  this 
respect,  in  proportion  as  it  has  a  ten- 
dency to  excite  animal  sensibility." 

Q.  Is  there  another  erroneous  defini- 
tion of  evangelical  preaching  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  There  are 
some  persons  who  entertain  the  opinion, 
that  to  render  a  sermon  truly  evangeli- 
cal, it  should  exhibit  the  whole  Chris- 
tian doctrine  in  epitome.  It  is  easy  to 
perceive,  that,  according  to  the  last  the- 

*  Commentaries,  p.  157. 


22         bishop  white's  opinions. 

ory,  there  is  not  in  Scripture  a  single 
apostolic  address  which  answers  to  the 
character  of  a  preaching  of  Christ." 

Q.  Are  there  "  various  fancies  which 
set  reason  and  revelation  in  contrariety  V9 

A.  Bishop  White*  says,  "  Of  that  de- 
scription we  may  consider  means  of 
conversion,  which  agitate  the  pas- 
sions without  conveying  any  information 
to  the  understanding ;  and  according  to 
which  there  are  supposed  assurances  of 
salvation,  without  the  possession  of  a 
particle  of  knowledge,  either  of  the 
truths  of  our  holy  religion,  or  of  the 
grounds  on  which  it  rests.  Under  the 
same  class  is  the  sentiment  avowed  by 
some  that  the  proper  way  of  communi- 
cating the  Gospel  to  those  who  are 
strangers  to  it,  is  by  merely  preaching 
Christ  to  them,  in  the  offices  in  which 

*  Comment,  p.  31. 


BISHOP  WIIITF/S  opinions.  23 

he  is  d       nated  in  Scripture;  leaving 

the  issue  to  the  operation  of  divine 
grace.  It  ought  to  be  a  subject  of  grief, 
tthen,  in  reading  accounts  of  the  labors 
o(  pious   men,   for  the   converting  of 

heathen  nations,  we  find  this  the  only 
ground  on  which  the  desired  conversion 
wascithrr  attempted  or  expected.  There 
e  no  hesitation  to  express  the  opi- 
nion that  it  in  some  m«  re  accounts 
for  the  almost  absolute  inefficacy  of  their 
zeal  and  pains." 

Q.  Give  an  instance  of  Bishop  White's 
>e  of  the  term  "  evangelical  ?" 
A.  Bishop  White*  speaks  of  "The 
evangelical  services  of  the  Book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer." 

Q.  Do    different  theories  attach  dif- 
it    senses    to   the    term  "  evangeli- 
j  ?" 

*  Address  to  GcnI.  Thcol.  Sem.  July,  MB 


24         bishop  white's  opinions. 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  In  theories 
as  diverse  as  possible  from  the  one  men- 
tioned, j  there  are  those  who  acknow- 
ledge no  signs  of  evangelical  preaching, 
except  as  it  tends  to  agitate  the  feelings 
of  our  animal  mechanism,  having  no 
connexion  with  the  gracious  affections 
known  in  Scripture  as  a  new  creation, 
and  a  vesting  within  properties  which  are 
a  renewal  of  the  image  in  which  our 
race  was  originally  created;  but  spend- 
ing their  forces  in  a  variety  of  extrava- 
gances as  diverse  from  one  another  as 
from  Scriptural  and  rational  devotion." 

Q.  Is  the  term  "  evangelical"  some- 
times used  for  party  purposes  ?     *,_ 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  It  is  some- 
times used  for  the  casting  of  unmerited 
reproach,  and  with  a  view  to  very  un- 
worthy purposes ;  especially  when  it  is  so 

*  Genl.  Theol.  Sem.  Address,  1829,  p.  5. 
f  Genl.  Theol.  Sem.  Address,  1829,  p.  6. 


bishop  white's  opinion  25 

applied  as  to  cover  an  agency  in  party, 
it  will  pot  be  checked  by  any  dictates  of 
moral  obligation." 

Q.  How   is  the  claim  of  evangelical 
preaching  often  mack 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  claim 
of  evangelical  preaching  is  often  made, 
either  in  the  ^ay  of  denying  that  any 
thing  short  of  Calvinism  is  Gospel  doc- 
trine; or  else,  as  resolving  all  religion 
into  animal  sensibility.     The  name  in 
question    (evangelical,)   when    assumed 
with  a  view  to  the  making  of  a  distinc- 
tion on  such  grounds,  has  a  tendency  to 
slander    many    faithful    ministers,   who 
make  a  conscience  of  opening  to  their 
flocks  the  whole  counsel  of  God  ;  but  do 
not  consider   the  opinions  here  alluded 
to,  or   an;     practices   connected   with 
them,  as  comprehended  within  the  de- 


i 


*  Com  p.  V  .ii.] 


26        bishop  white's  opinions. 

sign.  On  this  account  it  is  here  sup- 
posed, that  a  clergyman  may  be  truly 
evangelical  in  his  preaching,  and  yet, 
not  wish  to  be  characterized  by  a  name, 
so  far  as  it  is  abused  to  an  unworthy 
purpose." 

Section  V. 

<3)f  %  Wxbit;  anir  tlje  JUlation  of  % 
€\)nxtl)  to  tijt  Wxbit. 

"  The  Church  hath  power  to  decree  rites  or  cere- 
monies, and  authority  in  controversies  of  faith." — From 
Art.  XX. 

"  Great  evils  and  unhappy  divisions  among  Christ- 
ians have  arisen  from  construing  particular  passages' 
in  a  sense  different  from  the  general  tenor  and  design 
of  the  sacred  volume." — Bishop  Grisivold,  Discourses^ 
f.  470. 

Q.  How   has  the  Divine  Being  im- 
parted to  us  his  Revelation  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  Divine 

*  Charge  1807,  p.  29. 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  opinions.  27 

Being  has  been  pleased  to  impart  to  us 
a  revelation  of  his  will,  under  a  form,  in 
which  it  cannot  be  applied  to  edification 
without  a  knowledge,  to  be  possessed  at 
least  by  some,  of  various  branches  of  li- 
terature, which  contribute  to  the  ascer- 
taining of  the  true  sense  of  Scripture." 

Q.  On  what  authority  does  our  Church 
rest  the  authority  of  the  books  of  Scrip- 
ture ? 

Q.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  She  rests 
the  authority  of  the  books  alleged  to  be 
Scripture,  on  the  testimony  of  the 
Church ;  affirming  in  her  20th  article, 
that  this  body  is  a  'witness  and  a 
keeper  of  holy  writ;'  and  she  has  not, 
in  any  of  her  institutions,  given  a  hint 
of  any  other  ground  on  which  we  are  to 
re  one  book  or  another  to  have 
been  given  by  inspiration.' 

*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  ii.  p.  24 


28        bishop  white's  opinions 

Q.  On  what  testimony  does  the  ge- 
nuineness of  the  canonical  books  of 
Scripture  rest  ?  1 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  It  will 
therefore  be  perceived,  that  their  (the 
canonical  book  of  Scripture)  genuineness 
rests  on  the  testimony  of  the  Church  ; 
and  the  stating  of  this  must  be  under- 
stood to  the  exclusion  of  other  standards 
of  authenticity,  imagined  by  different 
descriptions  of  persons." 

Q.  Is  the  internal  evidence  of  itself 
sufficient  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  There  are 
some  who  think  we  need  no  other  evi- 
dence than  the  stamp  of  divinity,  which 
may  be  traced  in  the  excellent  matter 
contained ;  which,  by  the  way,  is  pre- 
cisely the  argument  alleged  by  the  Mus- 


*  Comment,  p.  22,  vide  p.  24. 
f  Comment,  p.  22. 


BISHOP  white's  opinions.         29 

sulmans,  to  prove  the  divine  authority 
of  their  Koran. " 

i     Q.  When  was  the  canon  of  the  New 
Testament_complete  ?j 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  «  These  (the 
written  records  of  the  Apostles'  doc- 
trine) were  not  in  existence  until  long 
after  the  formation  of  the  Church,  and  a 
very  large  extension  of  it." 

Q.  Of  what  use  is  Tradition  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  We  trust  to 
tradition  for  the  genuineness  of  every 
one  of  the  sacred  books." 


*  Of  the  Testimony  of  the  Church  to  the  Books  of 
Scriptural  and  Church  Re£.,  Mnreh,  1827. 
f  Primitive  Facts  in  Church  Reg.,  Jan.  1826. 


30       bishop  white's  opinions. 

Section  VI. 
©f  %  (Ectrto  fafytvs,   anb   ©rabition 

"Diligently  reading  Holy  Scripture  and  ancient 
authors." — From  the  Preface  to  the  Ordinal. 

"  The  Primitive  Church,  which  is  specially  to  be 
followed,  as  most  incorrupt  and  pure." — The  Homilies^ 
p.  207. 

"  And  I  protest  and  openly  confess,  that  in  all  my 
doctrine  and  preaching,  both  of  the  sacrament  and  of 
other  mv  doctrine,  whatsoever  it  be,  not  onlv  I  mean 
and  judge  those  things  as  the  Catholic  Church  and  the, 
most  holy  fathers  of  old,  with  one  accord,  have  meant 
and  judged,  but  also  I  would  gladly  use  the  same  words 
that  they  used,  and  not  use  any  other  words  but  to  set 
my  hand  to  all  and  singular  their  speeches,  phrases, 
ways,  and  forms  of  speech,  which  they  do  use  in  their 
treatises  upon  the  sacrament,  and  to  keep  still  their  in- 
terpretation."— Arhp.  Cranmer's  Appeal,  Rem.  vol.  iv. 
p.  121,  127. 

Q.  What  is  the  relation  of  the  Early 
Fathers  to  Holy  Scripture  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  taking  the 
Holy  Scriptures  for  our  principal  instruc- 
tion in  this  matter,  and  next  to  them, 

*  Con.  Ser.  1786,  p.  28. 


BISHOP   white's    OPINION-  ol 

the  writings  of  those  who  were  nearest 
to  the  times  of  the  Apostles,  There  is 
an  unhappy  prospensity  in  mankind  to 
run  from  any  extreme  into  its  opposite. 
Hence  the  infallibility  claimed  by  a  late 
claimed  by  a  later  human  authority  hath, 
in  part,  prevented  the  reverence  in  rea- 
son due  to  the  earlier :  and  I  cannot  think 
that  if  ever  the  church  in  general  should 
return  to  the  happy  medium,  we  shall 
be  furnished  with  such  faithful  expositors 
as  will  effectually  overthrowr  as  well  the 
gross  errors  of  the  middle  ages,  as  the 
many  fanciful  systems  which  are  the 
abuses  of  the  free  speculation  of  modern 
times.* 

Q.  How  does  Bishop  White  style  the 
Early  Fathers  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  speaks*  of  "the 
army  of  martyrs,  by  whose  blood    we 

*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  425.         ( 


32       BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

have  supposed  the  Church  to  have  been 
watered,  during  at  least  the  first  three 
centuries  of  the  Christian  era? 

Q.  How  does  Bishop  White  style~the 
remains  of  the  Apostolic  Fathers,  viz : 
St.  Barnabus,  St.  Clement,  St,  Ignatius, 
St.  Poly  carp  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  speaks*  of  them  as 
"  the  scanty  though  golden  remains  of 
these  holy  men." 

Q.  How  does  Bishop  White  speak  of 
St.  Barnabas  ? 

Bishop  White  says,f  «  The  epistle  as- 
cribed to  St.  Barnabas  is  admitted  by 
the  best  critics  to  have  been  his,  and 
is  cited  by  some  of  the  Fathers,  who 
were  judges  of  its  traditionary  reputa- 
tion in  their  times.  That  companion  of 
the   twelve  apostles,   and  bearing  the 


*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p,  403, 
t  Lectures,  p,  264. 


bishop  white's  opinions.        33 

name  of  an  apostle  himself  in  the  New 
Testament/'  &c. 

Q.  How  does  Bishop  White  style  St. 
Clement  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  calls*  him  "The 
apostolic  and  blessed  writer."  Again, 
"  The  Roman  Clement,f  undoubtedly 
the  person  referred  to  in  Philipp.  iv.  3, 
as  having  c  his  name  written  in  the 
book  of  life,'  in  his  admirable  Epistle 
to  the  Corinthians." 

Q.  How  does  Bishop  White  speak  of 
St.  Ignatius  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  callsf  him  "The 
venerable  Father." 

Q.  How  does  Bishop  White  speak  of 
Justin  Martyr  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says§  "  Sustin  Mar- 


*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  406. 
f  Lectures,  p.  'J35. 

iComp.  \  »1.  i.  p.  409. 

Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  421. 


34        bishop  white's  opinions. 

tyr,  a  man  celebrated  in  his  own  and  in 
every  succeeding  age ;  and  constantly 
appealed  to,  in  proof  of  the  worship  and 
the  discipline  of  the  primitive  Church." 
Again,  Bishop  White  calls*  Justin 
"  This  blessed  Martyr.'5 

Q.  How  does  Bishop  White  speak  of 
Irenaeus  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "the  good 
bishop  of  Lyons."  He  calls  him  also 
"  celebrated "  and  "  venerable/'  and 
says,  "  it's  (his  memory's)  fragrance  is 
still  fresh  to  all  those  who  have  not 
adopted  the  maxim  of — no  Calvinist,  no 
Christian." 

Q.   How  does  Bishop  White  speak  of 
Tertullian  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,!  "  No  man  is 
considered  as  better  acquainted  with  the 


*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  423. 
t  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  426 — 9. 
I  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p  430. 


bihop  white's  opjnions,         35 

state  of  the  Church  in  his  own  day,  or  as 
more  faithful  in  reporting  it" — "It  is  a 
known  fact  that  he  was  never  thought 
heterodox,  any  further  than  as  relates  to 
the  latter  part  of  his  life,  and  to  the 
error  of  Montanism,  into  which  he 
then  fell.  His  admirable  apology,  ad- 
dressed to  the  Roman  Senate,  is,  of  it- 
self, sufficient  to  render  his  name  res- 
pectable in  the  Christian  Church.  This 
celebrated  work  was  written  long  before 
his  fall." 

Q.    How  does   Bishop    White    style 
Clemens  of  Alexandria  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  It  will 
hardly  be  said  that  in  the  writings  of 
this  learned  man,  there  is  to  be  met 
with  anything  favorable  to  Calvinism." 
Q.  What  doea  Bishop  White  say  or 
Orijjen  ? 

*  Comp.  V  vol.  i.  p.  431. 


36        bishop  white's  opinions. 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Notwith- 
standing all  the  intemperate  abuse  of 
Origen  after  his  death,  succeeding  to  the 
honor  in  which  he  had  been  held  during 
his  life,  it  is  here  supposed  that  his  tes- 
timony would  at  all  times  have  been 
held  good,  except  where  his  peculiar 
fancies  were  concerned."  j 

Q.  What  does  Bishop  White  say  of 
St.  Cyprian  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "Cyprian, 
whose  orthodoxy  has  escaped  impeach- 
ment." 

Q.  How  does  Bishop  White  speak  of 
Athanasius  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  calls  himj  "  The 
celebrated  Athanasius." 

Q.  How  does  Bishop  White  speak  of 
Gregory,  of  Nazianzum  ? 


*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  435.    See  also  p.  462. 
t  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  430. 
I  Com,  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  465. 


BISHOP    WHITES    OPINIONS.  37 

A.  Bishop  Whit  ys,*  "  Gregory,  of 
Nezianzum,  so    much   celebrated   as  a 

model  of  Christian  piety  and  humility ." 

Q.  How  does  Bishop  White  style 
Basil  ? 

J.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  Basil,  who 
acquired  the  title  of  "the  great."  This 
"  eminent  man." 

Q  What  does  Bishop  White  say  of 
Jerom< 

A.  Bishop  White  says, J  "Jerome, 
whose  high  rank  in  the  list  of  Christian 
writers,  there  can  be  no  occasion  to 
establish." 

Q.  What  does  Bishop  White  say  of 
St.  Chrysostom  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,§  "  The  name  of 
Chrysostom  deserves  to  have  an  especial 

*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  464. 
f  Comp,  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  414. 
Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.   p.  4  II, 
j  Comp.  VieWI,  vol.  i.  p.  447. 

2 


38        BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

stress  laid  on  it,  because  of  his  fervent 
piety  and  his  eminent  reputation 
throughout  the  Christian  world ;  for  a 
time,  indeed,  under  a  cloud,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  party  made  against  him  by 
the  Empress  Eudocia;  but  abundantly 
cleared,and  an  object  of  universal  homage 
after  his  decease." 

Q.  What  comes  next  to  the  import- 
ance of  holy  scripture,  and  the  proper 
application  of  it  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Next  to  the 
importance  of  Holy  Scripture,  and  the 
proper  application  of  it,  is  that  of  the 
history  of  the  early  ages  of  the  Church; 
it  being  especially  understood  of  the 
first  three  centuries." 

Q.  Should  careful  attention  be  paid  to 
the  early  Fathers  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  It  should  be 

*  Sem.  Address,  1823,  p.  10. 
f  Comment,  p.  72. 


BISHOP    WIHTl/s    OPINIONS.  39 

recommended  to  every  candidate  to  pay 
a  careful  attention  to  the  records  of  the 
first  three  centuries  of  the  church,  at 
least  to  tl,  of  them  which  are  prin- 
cipally illustrative  of  the  faith  and  the 
discipline  of  their  respective  times. 
This  is  here  recommended  with  a  view 
to  various  theological  notions  of  modern 
times ;  for  when  it  shall  appear,  con- 
cerning any  of  these,  that,  during  the 
ages  mentioned,  they  were  not  known 
either  in  the  character  of  truth  or  in 
that  of  error ;  there  seems  the  highest 
evidence  admitted  of  by  the  subject,  that 
they  cannot  have  had  any  place  among  the 
truths  delivered  to  us  in  the  gospel." 

Q.  How  does  Bishop  White  describe 
the  first  three  centuries  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  when  we 
come  down  to  the  fourth  century,  it  is 

*  Comp.  View.-,  vol.  i.  p,  438. 


40        bishop  white's  opinions. 

natural  to  make  a  pause,  and  to  look 
back  on  the  preceding  centuries,  under 
the  light  furnished  by  the  records  of 
their  transactions,  as  they  stand  in  Euse- 
bius.  The  amazing  successes  of  the 
heralds  of  the  religion  of  Jesus,  in  dif- 
rerent  quarters  of  the  globe ;  the  perse- 
cutions brought  on  Christians,  and  the 
fortitude  with  which  they  sustained 
them;  the  notices  of  Christian  apolo- 
gists, since  lost,  generally  giving  details 
of  the  subjects  of  their  compositions ; 
the  accounts  of  Bishops  who  had  filled 
the  most  popular  Sees,  not  without  de- 
lineations of  the  most  conspicuous  pro- 
perties of  their  characters;  these  and 
many  other  subjects  are  parts  of  the  his- 
tory of  Eusebius." 

Q.  How  do  we  use  tradition  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*    "  As  testi- 

*  Charge,  1807,  p.  42. 


bishop  white's  opinions.         4  1 

mony  extraneous  to  Scripture  is  the 
standard  for  the  trying  of  the  authenti- 
city of  any  of  its  books;  so,  in  ascer- 
taining the  sense  of  any  passage  of^an 
acknowledged  book,  we  are  not  to  shut 
our  ey  igamat  the  light  which  beams 
on  us  from  the  same  source." 

Q.  Does  our  Church  use  antiquity  to 
(plain  Scripture  in  any  important 
points  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  On  this 
ground  of  Scripture,  as  explained  by  an- 
tiquity, our  Church  retains  the  succes- 
sion of  the  Episcopacy." 

Q.  Would  there  be  fewer  differences 
among  professing  Christians,  were  a 
proper  respect  had  for  the  testimony  of 
the  early  Fathers 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  It  is  here 


•    1       Pge,  1807,  p.  -1:2. 

I     up.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  508. 


42       bishop  white's  opinions. 

conceived  that  the  difference  would  be 
much  less  in  this  respect  (of  interpreta- 
tion of  the  Bible,)  if,  agreeably  to  the 
medium  intended  to  be  observed  in  this 
division  of  the  work,  due  deference  were 
paid  to  the  testimonies  of  the  writers  of 
the  Church,  in  the  first  three  centuries ; 
yet,  not  without  making  a  considerable 
distinction  between  those  who  were 
near  the  source  of  inspiration,  and  those 
who  were  more  remote  from  it." 

Q.  Is  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church's 
respect  for  the  early  Fathers  a  distin- 
guishing feature  in  her  institutions  ? 

A. Bishop  White  says,*  "It  is  a  cir- 
cumstance in  the  institutions  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  distinguishing  her 
from  other  Protestant  communions,  that 
while  with  her,  and  with  them,  the 
Holy  Scriptures  are  acknowledged  to  be 

*  Of  Prim.  Facts,  &c.  in  Church  Register,  Jan.  1826. 


bishop  white's  opinion^.         43 

the  only  rule  of  faith,  great  respect  is 
paid  by  her  to  what  was  held  by  the 
early  Fathers,  and  has  been  handed  down 
to  us  in  their  writings,  and  in  other  au- 
thentic documents ;  not  as  adding  to  the 
Scriptures,  but  as  helping  to  the  inter- 
pretation of  them.  It  is  not  here  recol- 
lected that  the  same  deference  has  been 
paid  to  them  by  any  other  Protestant 
communion,  which,  in  addition  to  the 
importance  of  the  subject  in  itself,  is  a 
reason  for  our  forming  of  distinct  appre- 
hensions of  this  feature  on  the  face  of 
our  economy. " 

Q,  Did  the  faith  of  the  early  Fathers 
vary  from  that  of  the  Apostles  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Nor  yet  are 
there  any  of  fault  found  with  early 
Fathers,  for  alleged  variation  from  the 
faith  handed  down  to  them  by  the  Apo- 

*  Comp.  Vic?         L  ii.  p.  435. 


44        BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

sties ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  the  honor- 
able notices  of  them  in  the  fourth  cen- 
tury, especially  in  the  history  of  Euse- 
bius,  are  lasting  monuments  of  their 
having  left  behind  them  the  reputation 
of  an  orthodoxy  that  had  never  been  im- 
peached." 

Q.  What  are  some  of  the  advantages 
to  be  derived  from  the  records  of  the 
first  three  centuries  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Of  the  ad- 
vantages to  be  derived  from  the  records 
of  the  first  three  centuries,  it  is  not  the 
least  that  they  afford  unanswerable  proof 
of  the  absence  of  what  are  exclu- 
sively the  tenets  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church." 

Q.  Do  the  early  Fathers  afford  con- 
siderable aid  in  interpreting  Scrip- 
ture? 

*  Genl.  Theol.  Sem.  Address,  1823,  p.  11, 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  opinion-.  45 

A.  Bishop  White  s  . "  "It  is  con- 
ceived that  the  sense  of  the  times  im- 
medialely  following  the  Apostles,  must, 
as  a  fact,  ho  a  strong  testimony  on  the 
question  of  what  was  the  faith  which 
the  Apostles  handed  to  them ;  and,  in 
that  point  .of  view,  may  give  consider- 
able aid  in  the  interpreting  of  Scrip- 
ture." 

*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  398. 


46        bishop  white's  opinions. 


Section  VII. 


©f  %  QCerm  "  €  tljolic," 


AND  OF  THE  FIRST  FOUR  GENERAL  COUNCILS,  AND  OF  THE 
"  QUOD  SEMPER  UBIQUE  AB  OMNIBUS"  OF  VINCENTIUS. 


"  And  I  believe  one  Catholic  and  x\postolic  Church." 
— Nicene  Creed. 

"  Note,  that  by  St.  Augustin,  such  as  worshipped 
the  dead,  or  creatures,  be  not  Catholic  Christians." — 
Homilies,  p.  183. 

Q.  What  is  involved  in  the  term 
"  Catholic?" 

A.  Bishop  White  says*  "  In  propor- 
tion as  any  church,  in  the  present  day, 
comes  up  to  the  original  idea  of  Catho- 
licism, that  of  teaching  what  was  then 
of  universality  as  to  time  and  place ; 
without  teaching  any  thing  else,  as  of 

*  Lectures,  p.  37. 


in<nop  WHITE'S  opinions.         47 

nee  y  to  eternal  salvation,  althoug 
there  may  still  be  considerable  variety 
in  what  relates  to  discipline  and  order, 
such  a  church  deserves  the  name  of  'Ca- 
tholic,' and  stands  in  no  need  of  the 
superaddition  of  the  late  name  of  Ro- 
man." 

Q.  Is  it  right  to  speak  of  the  Catho- 
lic interpretation  of  any  text  of  Scrip- 
ture ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  remarking  on 
Titus  ii.  13,  "  The  text  must  be  consi- 
d  Ted  as  one  of  the  places  demonstrative 
of  the  divinity  of  the  Son ;  although, 
doubtless,  under  the  Catholic  interpre- 
tation of  the  derivation  of  the  divine  at- 
tributes from  the  Father." 

Q.  Is  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
gui<       is  to  what  is  heresy  by  the/irst 
r  General  Councils  ? 

*  Con.  Scr.  1811,  p.  7,  & 


48         BISHOP  white's  opinions.  ' 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "In  the  Church 
of  England,  it  is  provided  that  nothing 
shall  be  adjudged  heresy,  besides  what 
has  been  pronounced  such  by  some  one 
of  the  first  four  General  Councils  ;  and 
although  this  rests  on  the  authority  of 
an  Act  of  Parliament,  which  is  of  no 
force  in  the  Church  of  the  United  States, 
it  is  historic  evidence  of  the  sense  of 
the  Church  of  England,  and  of  course 
ours,  which  has  inherited  from  her  all 
the  principles  of  our  ecclesiastical  sys- 
tem. In  that  point  of  view,  it  remains 
in  proof  of  the  respect  for  the  sense  of 
the  early  ages  of  the  church,  which  has 
descended  to  us.'5 

Q.  Who  was  Vincent  of  Lerins,  and 
what  his  test  of  orthodoxy  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  Vincent  of 


*  Primitive  Facts  in  Church  Reg.,  Jan.  1826. 
f  Lectures,  p,  225. 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  opinion-.  49 

Lerins,  who  wrote  in  the  beginning  ot 

the  fifth  century,  and  ranks  as  a  saint  in 
the  Roman  Martyrology.    Certainly  this 

sensible  author  could   not  have  known 

any  thing  of  a  test  of  orthodoxy,  in  an 
reement  with  the  Church  of  Rome  in 
particular,  since,  in  opposition  to  hen  - 
ticks,  he  insists  all  along  on  another 
test — that  of  agreement  with  the  church 
in  general,  in  what  has  been  held  al- 
ways and  every  where." 

Q.  Can  any  well-informed  churchman 
object  to  Vincent's  test  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  It  is  here 
supposed  that  no  well-informed  member 
of  the  Church  of  England,  or  of  this 
Church,  would  object  to  Vincent's  t> 
of  Catholicism." 

*  Lectures,  p,  89 


50        bishop  white's  opinions 


Section    VIII. 
©f  %  Cljurd). 

"  O  Almighty  God,  who  hast  built  thy  Church  upon 
the  foundation  of  the  Apostles  and  Prophets,  Jesus 
Christ  himself  being  the  head  corner  stone." — From 
Collect  for  S.  $.  Simon  and  Jude. 

"  It  (the  Church)  hath  always  three  notes  or  marks, 
whereby  it  is  known ;  pure  and  sound  doctrine,  the 
Sacraments  ministered  according  to  Christ's  holy  in- 
stitution, and  the  right  use  of  ecclesiastical  discipline." 
— Homilies,  p.  421. 

Q.  Is  the  Church  Spiritual,  to  the 
exclusion  of  its  being  visible  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says*  "At  the  close 
of  his" (Christ's)  ministry,  various  insti- 
tutions show,  that  however  spiritual 
his  religion,  it  is  not  in  such  sort  spiri- 
tual, as  to  exclude  the  idea  of  an  out- 
ward and  visible  society." 


*  Sermon  at  the  opening  of  Convention  on  the  21st 
of  June,  1786,  p,  7. 


B18HOF  white's  opinions.  51 

Q.  How  were  the  Churches  united  in 
the  early  agefl  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "In  the  early 
xes,  when  the  different  churches  of 
Christendom,  knowing  no  other  com- 
mon head  than  Christ,  lived  in  an  happy 
agreement  in  the  same  faith  under  their 
respective  Bishops,   and   in  a  delightful 

mimunion  founded  on  that  agreement." 
How  important,  then,  is  the  preserva- 
tion of  a  faith  thus  maintained  by  the 
Catholic  Christian  world! 

Q.  Is  the  existence  of  the  Church  a 
point  of  Christian  doctrine  ? 

A.'  Bishop  White  says,f  "it  is  also  no 
small  point  of  Christian  doctrine,  that 
there  is  held  out  to  us,  as  of  divine  in- 
stitution, a  social  body,  elsewhere  known 
under  the  name  of  'the  Church,'  and 


*  Con.  Sor.   178t».  p.  16. 
f  Coi  17SM,  p.  13. 


52        bishop  white's  opinions. 

other  descriptive  terms;  but  here  (Titus 
ii.  1 1,  14,)  mentioned  as  a  people  pe- 
culiarly owned  by  the  divine  founder  of 
their  communion.  Accordingly,  who- 
ever supposes  that  he  may  discharge  his 
Christian  obligations,  as  an  individual, 
without  conducting  himself  as  a  com- 
ponent part  of  that  professing  body,  does 
not  work  out  his  salvation,  in  the  way 
which  has  been  authoritatively  pre- 
scribed to  him." 

Q.  Is  the  Church,  whether  we  use 
the  word  in  a  comprehensive  or  national 
sense,  a  divine  institution  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "The  Church 
of  Christ,  whether  considered  in  the 
comprehensive  sense,  embracing  all  the 
faithful,  or  as  existing  in  different  bodies, 
according  to  their  respective  countries, 
is  not  an  association  resting  on  the  will 

*  Con.  Ser.  1809,  p.  13. 


bishop  white's  opinions.         53 

of  man,  but  was  instituted  under  sacra- 
ments and  a  ministry  of  divine  origin." 

Q.  What  is  the  bond  of  union  among 
the  widely  extended  members  of  the 
Church  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  There  is  still 
a  bond  of  union  among  the  widely  ex- 
tended members  of  his  (Christ's)  fa- 
mily ;  in  the  acknowledgment  of  the 
same  Scripture  doctrine ;  in  the  use  of 
the  same  sacraments  ;  in  a  ministry  ori- 
ginating from  the  same  source  ;  and  in 
the  exercise  of  the  same  Christian  cha- 
rity." 

Q.  Is  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
a  branch  of  the  Catholic  Church  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  callsf  it  "  A  branch 
of  that  Catholic  Church  which  is  'built 
on  the  foundation  of  the  Apostles  and 


•  1807,  p.  13,  11. 
*  Con.  Ser.  1808,  p.  20. 


54         BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

Prophets,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the 
chief  corner  stone.' " 

Q.  What  is  meant  by  the  expression 
"  faithful  men/'  as  used  in  our  Prayer 
Book? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  expres- 
sion means  the  professors  of  the  Chris- 
tian faith ;  not  implying  that  all  are 
what  their  profession  requires  ;  since 
our  Lord  has  announced  that  there 
would  be  tares  among  the  wheat,  and  in 
other  ways  has  described  a  difference  of 
character  within  his  Church." 


Section  IX. 
(Df  (Episcopacy. 

"  It  is  evident  unto  all  men,  diligently  reading  Holy 
Scripture  and  ancient  authors,  that  from  the  Apostles' 
time  there  have  been  these  Orders  of  Ministers    in 

*  Catec.  in  Ep.  Mag.  p.  145,  (1820.) 


bishop  white's  opinions.        55 

'g  Church — Bishops,  Pri  nnd  Deacon-."' — 

>m  the  J'        «  to  th    0 

Wherefore  lot   us  i  \r  to  !*»  horoin  bold  and 

peremptory,  that  if  any  thing  in  the  Church1!  ru- 
men!, rarely  t!  tion  of  Bishops  wu  from 

iven,wac  i  of  God:  the  Holy  Ghost  was  the 
Mfthot  of  it.*1 — //    ;.or,  Ecc.  I'oL  b.  vii.  5. 

Q.  What  does  the  Christian  ministry 
imply  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "The  whole 
scheme  of  the  Christian  ministry,  as 
framed  by  the  Apostles,  and  handed 
down  to  us  in  succession,  implies  the 
intervention  of  an  ecclesiastical  order, 
designated  for  the  purpose." 

Q.  How  was  ordination  conveyed  in 
Apostolic  times? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,t   "  With  the 

ception  of  those  appointed  by  our 
Lord  in  person,  not  an  instance  can  be 
produced    of  ordination    in    any   other 


*  Comment,  p.  13,  11. 
M  7-  p.  39. 


56         BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

way  than  by  imposition  of  the  hands  of 
those  duly  authorized  under  a  commis- 
sion given  by  him  to  that  effect." 

Q.  What  does  the  P.  E.  Churchman 
say  of  the  Ministry  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  These  or- 
ders (of  the  Ministry)  say  we,  three  in 
number,  were  of  apostolic  institution, 
and  existed  universally  in  the  Church, 
as  now  among  us,  until  within  a  few 
ages  of  these  later  times." 

Q.  Is  the  ministerial  succession  a  di- 
vine institution  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  It  appears 
that  a  succession  in  the  Ministry  was 
provided  by  the  same  high  autho- 
rity which  first  declared  the  Gospel 
itself." 

Q.  What  three  positions  must  be  estab- 


*  Con.  Ser.  1801,  p.  22. 

t  Con.  Ser.  1808,  p.  8.    Vide  also  p.  17. 


BISHOP  white's  opinions.  57 

lished  concerning  the  Ministry  of  the 
Christian  Church  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  sa)rs,*  "  First,  it  is 
of  divine  institution :  Secondly,  in  every 
local  Church,,  it  is  of  right  independent 
on  all  foreign  authority  or  jurisdiction : 
and,  Thirdly,  as  instituted  by  Jesus 
Christ  and  his  Apostles,  it  includes  the 
three  orders  of  Bishops,  Priests,  and 
Deacons." 

Q.  Should  the  Clergy  hesitate  to 
claim  for  their  office  a  heavenly  ori- 
gin? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  Let  there 
be  no  hesitation  in  any  Clergyman  to 
claim  to  his  office  the  title  of  heavenly 
origin,  which  will  the  more  impress  him 
with  the  sense  of  the  account  he  is  to 
render  of  his  stewardship." 


*  lecture?,  p.  158. 

|  <on.  Ser.  1808,  p.  18. 


58         BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

Q.  Is  Episcopacy  a  constituent  part  of 
our  Church  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "But  you 
think  the  Episcopal  Church  might  have 
continued  to  have  the  three  orders,  al- 
though giving  up  the  succession;  and 
that  this  would  have  led  to  her  union 
with  other  Churches ;  that  is,  she  might 
have  given  up  what  she  conceives  to  be  a 
constituent  part  of  her  institutions,  and 
coeval  with  her  holy  religion:  in  the 
mere  doing  of  which  I  see  little  ground 
of  union  with  others ;  but  much  ground 
of  disunion  with  herself." 

Q.  What  does  Bishop  White  say  of 
Milton's  hatred  of  Episcopacy  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "The  im- 
mortal Milton,  whose  rage  against  Epis- 
copacy was  too  great  to  permit  the  ex- 


*  Bishop  White's  Essay,  signed  "  An  Episcopalian," 
No.  III. 
f  Lectures,  p.  437. 


BIMiOP  white's  OPINION-  59 

rise  of  his  judgment  on  any  point  con- 
nected with  it." 

Q.  Did  Bishop  White,  in  his  pam- 
phlet, entitled  u  The  case  of  the  Epis- 
copal Churches  in  the  United  States 
considered/'  consent  with  those  who 
were  adverse  to  the  apostolic  origin  of 
Episcopacy? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  To  those 
who,  being  adverse  to  the  apostolic 
origin  of  Episcopacy,  have  considered 
him  (Bishop  White)  as  having  con- 
sented with  them  in  opinion ;  he 
(Bishop  White)  is  ready  to  declare,  on 
every  suitable  opportunity,  that  the  con- 
trary was  intended  to  be  implied,  and 
that  it  is  obvious,  according  to  his  con- 
ceptions, on   the  face  of  *he  perform- 


ance." 


Q.  Is  it  arrogant  for  the  Ministry  to 


*  Appendix  to  Charge  of  1807,  p.  56. 


60         BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

assert  the  divine  institution  of  their 
office? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Is  it  arro- 
gant, is  it  unreasonable,  in  the  Ministers 
of  the  Gospel,  to  assert  the  divine  insti- 
tution of  their  office,  as  handed  down 
from  the  Apostles ;  and  to  deny  the  pro- 
priety of  every  door  to  the  Ministry  of 
man's  workmanship ;  whether  it  be  that 
of  popular  ordination,  or  the  plea  of  an 
inward  call  ?     It  cannot  be." 

Q.  Is  immoderate  power  necessarily 
connected  with  Episcopacy  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "In  the 
minds  of  some,  the  idea  of  Episcopacy 
will  be  connected  with  that  of  immo- 
derate power ;  to  which  it  may  be  an- 
swered, that  power  becomes  dangerous, 
not  from  the  precedency  of  one  man, 


*  Ord.  Ser.  1825,  p.  13,  14. 

t  The  Case  of  the  Ep.  Church,  p.  18. 


bishop  white's  opinion-.         61 

but  from  his  being  independent.  Had 
Rome  been  governed  by  a  Presbyter] 

instead  of  a  Bishop,  and  had  that  Pres- 
bytery been  invested  with  the  independ- 
ent riches  and  dominion  of  the  Papal 
See,  it  is  easy  to  conceive  of  their  ac- 
quiring as  much  power  over  the  Chris- 
tian world,  as  was  ever  known  in  a  Gre- 
gory or  a  Paul." 

Q-  How  should  we  act  in  regard^to 
the  Episcopacy  ? 

L  Bishop  White  says,*  "In  regard 
to  the  constitution  and  the  government 
of  the  Christian  Church,  we  affirm,  that 
that    '  from  the    beginning  there  ha? 
been    the    three    orders    of    Bisho] 
Priests,  and  Deacons;'  and  that  this  II 
'evident  from  Scripture,  and  from   an- 
cient authors,'  meaning  the  writings  of 
the  early  Fathers.     If  the  fact  be  as 

*  Genl.  Thco.  Sem.  Address,  1828,  p.  8. 


62         bishop  white's  opinions. 

stated — and  we  ought  to  be  supposed 
sincere  in  the  profession  of  it — is  it 
not  sufficiently  important  to  induce  us  to 
adhere  to,  and  not  by  any  act  to  imply 
the  nullity  of,  what  claims  so  high  an 
origin  ?" 


Section  X. 
©f  Apostolical  Bntttzsion. 

"  And  lo  !  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end 
of  the  world."—  St.  Matt,  xxviii.  20. 

"  O  holy  Jesus,  who  hast  purchased  to  thyself  an 
universal  Church,  and  hast  promised  to  be  with  the 
Ministers  of  apostolic  succession  to  the  end  of  the 
world." — From  the  Prayer  in  the  Office  of  Institution. 

Q.  Is  Apostolical  succession  essen- 
tial? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  To  justify 
the  candidate   in  believing  that  he  is 

*  Comment,  p.  19. 


bishop  white's  opinion  63 

called  according  to  the  will  of  Christ,  L 
convinced,  after  due  enquiry, 
that  the  Church  to  which  he  looks  for 
ordination,  is  a  true  Apostolic  Church, 
deriving  its  authority  from  that  founded 
by  the  Apostles.  For  since  they  did 
conl  dly  found  a  communion,  and 
since  it  did  confessedly  transmit  its  mi- 
nistries, there  3  no  possible  right  to 
the  name  of  a  Christian  Church  at  pre- 
sent, but  in  sue  q  from  the  origi- 
nally established  body." 

Q.  Is  it  important  that  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Churchman's  principles  on 
this  point  should  be  settled  ? 

A.  Bishop  White*  says  "  It  is  of  im- 
portance to  every  candidate,  and  much 
more  so  to  the  Church,  that  he  should 
have  his  principles  settled  on  the  pr< 
sent  point  (Apostolical  sue        ion,)  since 

*  Comment,  p.  19. 


64         bishop  white's  opinions. 

otherwise  he  will  be  in  continual  danger 
of  setting  up  his  own  opinion  in  con- 
trariety to  what  the  Church  has  de- 
cided or  ordained.55 

Q.  By  what  is  our  Church  distin- 
guished ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "By  the 
apostolic  succession  of  her  Ministry, 
and  by  the  evangelical  and  rational  con- 
struction of  her  worship.55    . 

Q.  From  whom  do  we  derive  the 
principles  on  which  are  grounded  the 
doctrines,  worship,  and  constitution  of 
our  Church  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  The  prin- 
ciples which  we  believe  to  have  been 
transmitted  to  us  from  the  churches 
founded  by  the  blessed  Apostles,  through 
the  channel  of  the  Church  of  England.55 


*  Charge  1807,  p.  24. 

f  Address    at    Bishop   Onderdonk's   Consecration, 
p.  16. 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  OPINIONS.  65 

Q.  Is  Apostolical  Succession  essential 

to  the  peace  of  the  Church  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "We  hold 
up  the  succession  of  the  Ministry,  as  a 
principle  clearly  deducible  from  Scrip- 
ture, and  essential  to  the  peace  and  the 
good  government  of  the  Church. " 
Again,!  u  We  affirm  the  necessity  of 
succession  from  the  Apostles." 


Section  XI. 
<Df  Scljism. 

•  That  (hero  should  be  no  schism  in  the  body." — 

1  Corinth,  xii.  26. 

*n  all  false  doctrine,  heresy,  and  schism,     (itxxi 

Lard  deliitr  us." — Litany. 

Q.  Is  there  an  authorized  Ministry 
which  cannot  be  violated  with  im- 
punity ? 

*  Lectures,  p.  1 16. 

t  Le<  ,  p.  138. 


66         BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "It  has 
pleased  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  to 
commit  the  preaching  of  the  word  and 
the  administration  of  the  Sacraments  to 
an  authorized  Ministry.  Accordingly, 
all  violation  of  this  order  may  be  consi- 
dered as  figured  by  '  the  wood,  the  hay, 
and  the  stubble/  Where  this  is  done 
under  knowledge  of  wThat  the  Scriptures 
enjoin,  and  from  disregard  of  that  high 
authority,  the  indulgence  in  the  text 
(1  Cor.  iii.  11.)  does  not  extend;  and 
it  can  have  no  place  except  in  the  case 
of  involuntary  error  and  unperceived 
frailty." 

Q.  What  would  be  the  result  to  our 
Church  of  not  sustaining  her  distinctive 
principles  ? 

A  Bishop  White  says,f  "  Principles 


*Ord,  Ser.  1825,  p.  12. 
f  Advanct.  Ser.  1813,  p.  28. 


I    BISHOP  white's  opinions.  67 

(of  our   Church,   in  discipline   and  in 

tiship,)  which  we  believe  to  he  the 
most  agr  t>le  to  primitive  antiquity; 
and  without  Which  we  shall  be  like  'a 
kii:  m  divided  against  itself,'  full  of 
1  confusion  and  every  evil  work.'" 

Q.  Can  the  Church  be  voluntarily  left 
without  sin  ? 

A.  Bishop  Whit  iys,*  "That  the 
membership  of  a  divinely  instituted  so- 
ciety cannot  he  voluntarily  abandoned 
without  sin,  is  a  proposition  which  can 
hardly  stand  in  need  of  proof." 

Q.  Is  the  expression,  "  the  Church 
that  is  in  his  house,"  which  occurs  in 
the  New  Testament,  sometimes  impro- 
perly quoted  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  As  this  is 
sometimes  quoted  in  defence  of  separate 


•  C    irge  1*07.  p.  35. 
r  C        -or.  1809,  p.  13. 


68         BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

and  exclusive  and  even  of  schismatical 
meetings  for  devotion,  it  is  proper  that 
I  should  guard  against  such  a  construc- 
tion, by  remarking,  that  the  churches 
there  mentioned  were  assemblies  of  all 
professing  Christians  within  their  re- 
spective districts,  and  under  the  mi- 
nistry of  their  proper  pastors." 

Q.  What  is  it  not  unnatural  to  con- 
ceive of  the  societies  who  have  sepa- 
rated from  the  Church  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Concerning 
all  these  societies,  it  is  not  unnatural  to 
conceive,  as  to  what  may  be  deemed 
error  in  their  systems,  that  the  continu- 
ance of  it  has  been  in  a  great  measure 
owing  to  the  dropping  of  the  reading  of 
the  Scriptures,  or  else  to  the  reading  of 
them  in  a  very  scanty  measure.  Were 
there  shown  any  one  of  them  which  has 

*  Comment,  p.  33-4. 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  OPINft    TO.  H9 

returned   to   primitive   integrity  in    tl 
rticular,  it  would  be  a  temptation  to 

predict,  that  before  long  such  a  society 
•uld  abandon  the  extra-       ncies  of  its 

original  separation." 


Section  XII. 
(Pf  (Cl)antn. 

That  mo  client  gift  of  Charity,  the  very  bond 

of  peace,  and  of  all  virtue. — Quinquagi  sima  ( ' 

Difference  of  opinion  on  important  religious  topics 
ought  not  to  break  the  ties  of  harmony  between  child- 
ren of  the  same  common  Parent  and  subjects  <>f  the 
pice  of  the  same  Redeemer/' — Bp.  Hobart,  P 
Aj>  v.  vi. 

Q.  What  should  be  our  action  towards 
those  exterior  to  our  Communion  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "While  we 
avoid  the  spurious  liberality  which  af- 

*  Sem.  Address,  1823.  p.  18. 


70  BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

fects  to  consider  all  opinions  as  on  a 
level,  and  which  generally  betrays  its 
unsoundness,  by  an  inconsistency  of 
practice  with  profession,  let  us  be  aware, 
how  much  diversity  of  opinion  is  the 
result  of  a  different  understanding  of 
words ;  what  a  variety  of  character  is 
seen  in  human  nature,  as  constituted  by 
the  all-wise  Creator ;  what  allowances 
are  to  be  made  on  account  of  the  influ- 
ence of  education  and  early  habit ;  and 
if  there  were  nothing  else,  what  a  strong 
tendency  there  is  in  the  contrary  of  the 
grace  of  charity,  rather  to  confirm  pre- 
judice than  to  correct  it." 

Q.  Whilst  we  have  kindly  feelings  to- 
wards those  who  differ  from  us,  state 
what  is  our  only  way  of  being  useful  in 
spreading  the  Gospel  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  In  the  por- 

*  Advancemt.  Ser.  1813,  p.  28. 


bishop  white's  opim  7  1 

tion  of  Christendom  in  which  Provi- 
dence has  cast  our  lot,  we  do  way  of 
being  useful  to  the  common  cai     .  hut 

on  the  ground  of  that  Apostolic  Church 
of  which  we  are  members;  and  which 
We  believe  to  have  been  acted  on  during 
fhoa       nrly  ages,  wherein  Christianity 

was  the  most  adorned  by  the  lives  and 
by  the       »ths  of  its  professors." 

Q.  What    should  be   our  sentiments 
towards  those  not  of  the  Church? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Under  the 
diversity  of  religious  sentiment  which 
God  has  suffered  to  take  place  among 
those  who  expect  salvation  through  the 
same  Redeemer,  there  is  a  debt  of  cha- 
rity from  us  towards  all  of  this  d  rip- 
tion,  which  should  make  us  rejoice  in 
any  good  accomplished  by  their  labor- 
Even  if,  in  some  instances,  evangelical 

*  Advancemt.  Scr.  p. 


72        bishop  white's  opinions. 

doctrine  should  be  intermixed  with 
error,  we  have  a  better  prospect  of  the 
issue,  as  to  the  temporal  and  the  eter- 
nal happiness  of  our  fellow-men,  than 
from  their  being  entangled  in  the  snares 
of  infidelity,  or  from  their  being  aban- 
doned to  entire  ignorance  of  religious 
truth  and  duty." 

Q.  Should  those  who  differ  from  the 
Church  think  us  uncharitable  in  our 
testifying  against  their  principles  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "  There  are 
around  us  sundry  communions  of  pro- 
fessing Christians,  whose  peculiar  tenets 
are  contradicted  by  our  articles,  with  an 
explicitness  not  permitting  mistake ; 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped,  that  no  religious 
and  virtuous  members  of  such  bodies 
wTill  suppose  us  possessed  of  the  less 
esteem  for  their  persons,  on  account  of 

*  Comment,  p.  78. 


BISHOP  whitk's  opinion-  73 

the  testimonies    which  we   hold    our- 
bound  to  bear  against  their  opi- 
nions." 

Q.  D  Christian  charity  to  all 
who  differ,  involve  any  yielding  of  con- 
scientious points  of  difference  I 

.1.  Bishop  White  says,*  "There  arc 
sonic,  indeed,  who  to  show  how  much 
they  soar  above  illiherality  of  religious 
ntiinent,  would  throw  down  every 
rrier  dividing  our  communion  from 
some  others  in  visible  administration, 
hecause  th  think  the  existing  differ- 
ences are  of  no  importance.  Among 
th<  jections  to  such  a  plan,  it  is  not 
the  least,  that  it  tends  to  the  disturbance 

of  p  and  charity;   whilst   the  secu- 

ring of  tl         is    its   professed  object. 

And    such    must  he  the    effect,   unless 
these  mistaken   promoters  of  unity  c 

*  Comment,  p.  119. 

3 


74        bishop  white's  opinions. 

persuade  one  of  two  parties,  whom 
they  may  at  any  time  aim  to  reconcile, 
to  give  up  points  which  they  think  in- 
volved in  Christian  verity.  So  far  as 
there  have  been  attempts  to  draw  the 
Episcopal  Church  into  this  plan,  liberal 
as  some  conceive,  the  design  has  uni- 
formly exacted  the  sacrifice  of  the  prom- 
inent characteristics  of  our  system." 

Q.  Should  our  charity  lead  to  the 
giving  up  of  our  distinctive  principles  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "  Whatever 
has  a  tendency  to  shake  the  constitution 
of  the  Christian  ministry,  believed  by 
us  to  have  been  handed  down  from  the 
Apostles,  or  to  obtrude  on  us  any  mode 
of  worship  diverse  from  the  forms  con- 
sidered by  us  as  agreeable  to  Scripture 
and  primitive  antiquity,  or  either  to  dis- 
pense with  our  doctrinal  articles  on  the 

*  Genl.  Theo.  Sem.  Address,  1822,  p.  4. 


BI8H0P  white's  opinions,         75 

one  hand,  or  to  enlarge  them  by  dogmas 
not        irly  comprehended  in  them  on 

the   other,    is    not    the    latitude    here 
pleaded  for." 

Q.  May  pride  be  connected  with 
zeal  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "  It  may 
happen  that  pride,  like  a  poisonous 
weed,  shall  entwine  itself  with  the  plant 
of  a  holy  zeal,  and  the  zealot  may  be  as- 
sured of  a  fact,  now  declared  to  him 
from  the  experience  of  many  years,  that 
the  case  is  not  unfrequent,  when  faulty 
passion  being  permitted  to  intrude  into 
the  cause  of  God,  there  have  been  con- 
tracted habits  of  depreciating  the  char- 
acters of  brethren  in  the  ministry,  not 
only  contrary  to  the  demands  of  charity 
and  of  justice,  but  ensnarinj;  to  the  con- 
sciences of  the  cen.surers,  and  rendering 

*  GeflL  Theol.  Sem.  Address,  1823,  p.  19, 


76         bishop  white's  opinions. 

them  the  more  liable  to  a  great  variety 
of  temptation." 

Q.  Should  differences  in  religious  sen- 
timent be  accommodated,  to  the  destruc- 
tion of  order  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "And  even 
in  regard  to  difference  of  religious  senti- 
ment, it  is  better  manifested  by  respect 
and  candor ;  and  especially  by  the  pre- 
venting of  the  intrusion  of  our  angry 
passions  within  the  sacred  sphere  of  the 
discussion  of  religious  truth,  than  by  an 
accommodation  which  destroys  order. 
And  indeed  this,  while  its  professed  ob- 
ject is  love  and  peace,  is  frequently  the 
occasion  of  divisions,  more  and  worse 
than  those  which  it  is  solicitous  to  re- 
move.5' 

Q.  Should  charity  lead  to  a  yielding 
of  our  distinctive  claims  ? 

*  Charge  1807,  p.  46. 


bishop  white's  opinions.  77 

A.  Bishop   White    says*,  "If  tin 

claims  (of  charity)  are  to  set  aside  what- 
ever distinguishes  us  from  many  whom 
we  cannot  but  esteem  and  lovej  and  of 

whose  Christian  temper. and  conduct  we 
must  have  had  ample  evidence ;  there  is 

not  any  one  of  our  services,  or  either  of 

our  sacraments,  which  we  shall  retain." 

Q,  I-       ry  difference  of  opinion  ma- 

i  ? 
Am  Bishop    White  saysf,  "  It    is   not 
v  shade  of  difference  in  opinion  that 
will  warrant  the  minister  to  throw  on  it 
the  odium  of  material  error  ;  and   the 
danger  of  confounding  the  two  is  an  ad- 
ditional reason  for  requiring  a  sufficiency 
of   intellectual  information  as  a  qualifi- 
ition  for  the  ministry;    because  this 
I  fail  to  operate   as  a  counterpoise 
to  pride  and  passion,   in  their  tendency 

*  Charge  1807,  p. 
ument.  p.  93. 


78        bishop  white's  opinions. 

to  intolerance ;  not  indeed  eradicating 
those  principles  where  they  have  taken 
possession  of  the  heart,  but  restraining 
them  from  the  excesses  which  are  the 
result  of  ignorance." 

Q.  Does  charity  demand  a  sacrifice 
of  principle,  from  tenderness  to  the  feel- 
ings of  others  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "Does  it  fol- 
low, that  a  minister  of  our  Church  ought 
to  hesitate,  either  in  the  pulpit  or  in  his 
private  intercourse,  to  advocate  any  of 
her  distinctive  doctrines,  as  occasion 
may  require  ;  by  a  sacrifice  of  them  to 
what,  in  his  judgment,  are  the  errors  of 
opposing  sects,  and  from  a  tender- 
ness to  their  feelings  ?  No  such  matter 
is  intended." 

Q.  What  are  the  requisitions  of  evan- 
gelical charity? 

*Gen.  Theol.  Sem.  Address,  1827,  p.  12. 


bishop  white's  OPINION-.  79 

A.  Bishop  Win        ivs*,  "Therequi- 

tions  o(  this  «  (of  charity)  are  con- 
sidered by  him  (Bishop  White)  as  so 
imperious  in  dictating  the  foi  irance 
of  every  species  of  violence  of  language 
or  of  passion,  in  reference  to  diversity 
of  opinion,  that  he  has  no  hesitation  in 
counselling  you,  t  \tend  to  the  illib- 
eral, a  liberality  consistent  with  a  regard 
for  sacred  truth:  or,  by  the  substitution 
of  a  word  more  definite  and  more  con- 
sistent with  the  law  of  language,  to 
make  even  the  intolerant  the  subjects  of 
your  toleration." 

Q.  Should  not  courtesy  ever  accompany 
the  presentation  of  truth  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "  In  the  dis- 
ci n  of  controverted  points,  even  in 
reference  to  infidels,  and  still  more  when 
there  is  a  bearing  on  those  who  profess 


*  Geo.  TheoL  S<'m.,  Add  >  p.  16. 

-  in.,  Iriiliwii  1829,  p.  10. 


80         BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

to  worship  the  same  God,  through  the 
same  Mediator  Jesus  Christ;  while 
there  should  be  no  hesitation  to  an- 
nounce explicitly  the  truth  as  it  is  con- 
ceived to  be  declared  in  Scripture,  it 
should  be  exempt  from  indecorous  and 
from  reproachful  language/' 


Section  XIII. 
(Df  JSjmrious  Ciboralitg. 

"  Saying,  peace,  peace ;  when  there  is  no  peace.'' — 
Jerem.  vi.  14. 

"  And  this  I  say,  lest  any  man  should  beguile  you 
with  enticing  words. v — Coloss.  ii.  4. 

Q.  Is  there  a  specious  plea  of  liber- 
ality ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "There  is 
set  up  a  specious  but  delusive  plea  of 

*  Genl.  Sem.  Address,  1827,  p.  12. 


BISHOP    wiiiti.'>    OPINIONS.  81 

liberality,  occasionally  inviting    us    to 
join  in  religious  exercises,  in  which  all 

distinctive  principles  are  to  be  lost  sight 
of,  and  there  is  to  be  the  sole  object  of 
inculcating  the  truths  on  Which  the  par- 
ties are  agreed.  In  the  profession  of 
the  principle,  there  is  the  varnish  of  ap- 
parent philanthropy,  reconciling  to  it 
some  well  intentioned  persons;  while  it 
is  perceived  by  others  to  be  an  expedi- 
ent for  the  introducing  of  an  extraneous 
influence  within  the  sphere  of  our  com- 
munion. The  ground  thus  taken  has 
never  been  acted  on  consistently,  so  far 
as  the  present  speaker  is  informed,  for 
any  considerable  length  of  time  ;  and 
there  has  soon  been  betrayed  the  undis- 
guised spirit  of  proselvtism,  and  of  the 
bearing  of  an  exterior  influence  on  our 
concerns.  The  consequence  lias  been,  in 
various  places,  that  among  neighbors 
and  professors  of  a  common  Christianity. 


82         bishop  white's  opinions.. 

there  have  been  induced  controversies 
and  hostile  feelings  not  known  before." 

Q.  Should  we  comply  with  a  spurious 
liberality  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "  Let  not  this 
be  understood  as  countenancing  the  set- 
ting loose  to  any  material  requisition  in 
faith  or  in  discipline,  or  in  worship : 
much  less  the  relinquishing  of  it,  from 
compliance  with  the  spurious  liberality, 
which  would  draw  us  into  a  course  of 
conduct,  that  must  end  in  prostrating  our 
communion  to  the  domination  of  some 
other,  now  conceived  of  by  us  as  less 
rational  and  less  evangelical  than  our 
own." 

Q.  May  there  be  an  affectation  of  lib- 
erality ? 

A.  Bishop  White  saysf,  "  There  have 
been  some  ministers  of  our  communion 


*  Charge  1825,  p.  21. 
t  Comment,  p.  87. 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  opinions.  83 

who,  from  affectation  of  liberality,  ha\ 
encouraged  under  their  superintendence 
ministerial  doings  implying  an  entire 
disregard  of  epw  al  sanction.  Even 
in  regard  to  the  professed  charity  of 
such  a  practice,  it  is  in  appearance  only ; 
because  charity  will  always  be  best 
manifested  in  forbearance  towards  those 

who  differ  from  us;  and  in  thinking 
well  of  their  motives  and  of  their  per- 
sons, so  far  as  circumstances  may  war- 
rant, rather  than  in  sacrificing  our  prin- 
ciples to  theirs." 

Q.  Is  there  a  danger  of  being  too  sen- 
sitive to  the  feelings  of  those  who  dis- 
sent from  us  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  There  is  the 
opposite  danger,  of  being  so  sensitive  to 
th'j  feelings  of  those  who  dissent  from 
the  distinctive  principles  of  our  Church, 

•  Gen.  ThooL  Sem.  Address,  1829,  p.  11. 


84        bishop  white's  opinions. 

that  such,  their  discrepancies,  ought 
never  to  be  presented  to  congregational 
view;  which,  we  are  told,  should  be 
limited  to  what  are  contended  to  be  the 
only  essential  doctrines  of  Christianity 
assented  to  by  all  who  deserve  the  name 
of  Christians,  In  contrariety  to  this  it 
is  here  maintained  to  be  inconsistent 
with  ministerial  fidelity,  to  keep  back 
purposely,  any  truth  believed  to  be  con- 
tained in  Scripture ;  although  the  time 
of  propounding  it,  and  the  question  of 
its  pertinency  are  points  subjected  to 
the  determinations  of  Christian  pru- 
dence." 


Section   XIV. 
©f  l\)t  Sacraments. 

Q.  What  meanest  thou  by  this  word  Sacrament  ? 
A.  I  mean  an  outward  and  visible  sign  of  an  inward 
and  spiritual  grace,  given  unto  us  ;  ordained  by  Christ 


bishop  white's  opinions.         85 
himself;  as  a  moans  whereby  we  receive  the  nam 

and  a  pledge    to  assure   us   thereof."' — Church    ( 
hi. 

ind  peculiarly,  what  due  reverence  it  to  l>e  used 
in  the  ministering  of  the  Sacraments  in  the  Temple, 

the  same  St.  Paul  teacheth  to  the  Corinthian*,  rebukii 
such  as  did  unreverently  use  themselves  in  that  behalf. 
The  Homilies.  /'.  161. 

"Pardon,  salvation,  and  grace,  the  inestimable  hie— - 
ingl  of  this  -acred  ordinance,  are  conveyed  only  to  the 

ntuE  Believe*.*1 — H}>.  Hobart.     Companion  for  thr 

I  111. 

My  body,'  says  the  Redeemer,  v  is  meat  indeed, 
and  my  blood  is  drink  indeed  ;'  our  souls  are  strength- 
ened and  refreshed   by  the  body  and  blood  of  Chn 

pr-  v  in  the  same  way.  as  our  bodies  are  by  bread 

and  wine.  It  forms  the  aliment  of  our  immortal  prin- 
cipk — aliment  provided  by  the  Lord  Jesus  to  strengthen 
the  way-faring  man  on  his  journey  to  the  eternal 
world." — Bp.  Moor&i  of  Vvrg xnia.  Cane.  8er.  pp.  9, 10. 

Q.  Why  was  the  word  "  generally" 
inserted  in  the  answer  in  the  Catechism 
on  the  subject  of  the  Sacraments  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  word 
"  generally"  was  inserted,  with  a  refer- 
ence to  the  want  of  opportunity.  It 
would  have  been  inconsistent  and  unau- 

res,  p.  1  If 


86        bishop  white's  opinions. 

thorized  to  have  said  this,  for  the  dis- 
pensing with  observation  of  the  ordi- 
nances, in  regard  to  any.  But  it  was 
well  to  guard  against  the  uneasiness 
which  might  be  occasioned  to  sincere 
persons,  who  are  not  favored  with  the 
means.  Under  such  circumstances,  God 
dispenses  by  the  course  of  his  provi- 
dence, with  an  obligation  which  man 
cannot  abrogate  or  lessen,  in  any  in- 
stance." 


Section  XV. 
©f  Baptismal  ^generation. 


*■  "  ^Baptism  is  not  only  a  sign  of  professsion,  and  mar* 
of:  difference,  whereby  Christian  men  are  discerned 
from  others  that  be  not  christened  ;  but  it  is  also  a  sign 
of  regeneration,  or  new  birth." — From  Art.  XXV II. 

"  He  hath  also  ordained  one  visible  Sacrament  of 
spiritual  regeneration  in  water.'' — Arbp.  Cranmer , 
vol.  ii,  p.  302. 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  OPINIONS.  ^7 

The  Church  t  the 

promise  ofChrist,  that  he  wiU  holy  spirit  to 

thoM   who  ask    it.      W(  itly    instructed 

lopplicate  a  Gi  bild  now  to 

be  baptiz-  he  l'ul:  M  88  ol    his  <>:  md 

r  remain  in  the  number  of  his  faithful  children.1 

And  again, '  We  call  upon  tin  e  tor  thi>  infant,  that  he, 
Coming  to  thy  ho  in,  may  r  B  rem  i  of 

spiritual  regen^ratioi        A  I  r  the  performance 
,  tli  •  Church  Keeping  in  new 
the  petitions  which  have  been  i         1  up  in  behali     I 
the  disciple,  and  confiding  in  the  fulfilment  of  the  pro- 

to  return  thanks  to  the  Al- 
mighty, that    •  it  bat         laaod  him  to  the 
infant  with  his  Holy  Spirit,  to  receive  him  fof  his  own 
child  by  adoption,  and  t                           him  into  his  holy 
lurch." — of.  Moore, of  1    "ginia.     I      .  >•  r.  j>.  8. 

Q.  Is  baptismal  regeneration  a  Church 
doctrine  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "  So  far  as 
the  duty  of  a  conventional  preacher  is 
concerned,  the  author  is  of  opinion  that 
th<  should  be  carefully  avoided  all 
questions  on  which  the  sense  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  is  doubtful:  but  it  is 
to  be  lamented,  that   there    should    be 

*  Memoirs,  p.  l'36. 


88        bishop  white's  opinions. 

brought  under  this  head  a  doctrine,  i.  e. 
Baptismal  Regeneration,  which  we  have 
been  taught  to  lisp  in  the  earliest  repe- 
titions of  our  Catechism;  which  per- 
vades sundry  of  our  devotional  services, 
especially  the  baptismal ;  which  is  af- 
firmed in  our  articles  also ;  which  was 
confessedly  held  and  taught  during  the 
ages  of  the  martyrs ;  and  the  belief  of 
which  was  universal  in  the  Church  until 
it  was  perceived  to  be  inconsistent  with 
a  religious  theory,  the  beginning  and 
the  progress  of  which  can  be  as  dis- 
tinctly traced,  as  those  of  any  error  of 
popery/5 

Q.  Why  does  the  Church  retain  the 
term  "  regeneration"  in  connexion  with 
baptism  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  phrase- 
ology of  the  Church,  in  this  particular, 

*  Comment,  p.  207. 


HMOf   WHITlfs   OPINIONS.  89 

thing  but  a  continuation  of  that  of 
all  Christendom,  until  the  compiling  of 
the  Liturgy,  and  for  some  time  after." 

Q.  How  does  our  Church  consider 
baptism  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Our  Church 
considers  this  ordinance  as  an  actual 
grafting  into  the  Church,  without  any 
such  distinction  as  the  one  invented  be- 
tween a  visible  and  an  invisible  society 
under  that  name." 

Q.  Who  are  the  legitimate  children 
of  the  Church  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  She  (the 
Church)  considers  as  her  legitimate 
children  all  who,  having  been  brought 
within  her  communion  by  the  regenera- 
ting rite  of  baptism,  have  not  swerved, 
in  conduct,  from  the  profession  therein 
made  by  them,  or  in  their  name," 

*  Comment,  p.  83. 

t  Con.  Ser.  1801,  p.  20. 


90         bishop  white's  opinions. 

Q.  Give  another  quotation  from  Bishop 
White. 

A.  Bishop  White  says/  "  To  the  in- 
sertion of  this  prayer  (a  prayer  proposed 
to  be  inserted  instead  of  the  one  in  the 
confirmation  service) — there  have  been 
made  two  objections — the  first  is,  that  it 
would  add  to  the  sanction  given  to  the 
doctrine  of  baptismal  regeneration  con- 
fessedly contained  in  the  original  prayer. 
But  0 !  what  a  purgation  must  there  be 
of  our  articles,  of  our  services,  and  of  our 
homilies,  if  this  prejudice  is  to  be  com- 
plied with!" 

Q.  What  blessing  does  baptism  con- 
fer on  infants  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "Their  na- 
ture is  sanctified  by  the  possession  of 
grace  bestowed  in  baptism :  a  grace 
which  if  improved,  is  sufficient  for  the 

*  Memoirs,  p.  254. 

f  Comp.  Views,  voL  i.  p.  254. 


bishop  wiiitk's  opinions.  91 

exigencies  of  future  life;  and  therefore 
sufficient  to  prepare  them  for  early 
death." 

Attain,  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Con- 
cerning infants  brought  to  Christ  by 
baptism,  it  is  a  Scriptural  truth,  not  con- 
tradicted within  the  first  fifteen  hundred 
years  of  the  Christian  era,  that  they  are 
made  His  by  baptismal  regeneration: 
under  which  term  there  is  here  included 
not  a  moral  change,  but  partly  the  being 
begotten  again  to  immortality,  spoken  of 
in  1  Peter,  i.  3  ;  and  partly  the  new 
character  assured  to  them  in  a  federal  in- 
stitution, in  which  the  aids  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  are  stipulated  to  them  on  the  part 
of  God." 

Q.  Is  "baptismal  regeneration"  an 
erro: 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  If  there  be 

*  Comp.  Ywws.vol.  i.  p.  1270,  271. 
f  Comp.  Views,  vol.  ii.  p.  161. 


92        bishop  white's  opinions. 

error  in  what  she  (the  Church)  affirms 
concerning  baptismal  regeneration;  it  is 
an  error  which  has  shed  its  baneful  in- 
fluence throughout  her  system.  On  such 
a  supposition,  the  baptismal  services  are 
a  gross  deception  on  the  parents  and  the 
sponsors.  Nor  is  this  the  worst.  As 
soon  as  the  infant  becomes  capable  of 
lisping  his  catechism,  he  is  taught  to 
say,  that  he  receives  his  name  in  bap- 
tism, adding,  '  Wherein  I  was  made  a 
member  of  Christ,  the  child  of  God,  and 
an  inheritor  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven.' 
How  full  of  delusion  to  the  youthful  mind; 
if  there  be  a  moral  certainty  in  regard  to 
the  great  mass  of  those  for  whom  the 
answer  was  intended,  that  they  are  the 
children  of  the  devil  and  the  apparent 
inheritors  of  his  kingdom  ;  until  rescued 
from  him  by  a  conversion,  for  which 
they  are  not  yet  ripe  !" 

Q.  Is    the    denial  of   baptismal  re- 


BISHOP  white's  opinions.  93 

generation  the  source  of  many  er- 
rors I 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "he  is  free  to 
declare  that  he  knows  of  no  one  error, 
into  which  so  many  errors  of  modern 
times  resolve  themselves,  as  that  of 
quitting  the  ground  of  baptismal  regen- 
eration; which,  as  is  here  conceived, 
and  of  which  proof  will  be  endeavored, 

s  not  only  delivered  by  Christ  and 
his  Apostles,  but  reigned  in  the  Church 
without  contradiction,  until  within  three 
centuries  of  the  present  time." 

Q.  Are  the  benefits  of  baptism  im- 
portant ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  It  would 
seem,  that  the  Church  contemplated  the 
benefit  of  baptism  as  so  important,  and 
was  so  desirous  of  conveying  her  sense 
of  the  nature  of  the  institution,  that  she 

*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  ii.  p.  276. 
f  Lectures,  p.  7. 


94        bishop  white's  opinions. 

designedly  varied  her  phrases,  in  order 
that  no  room  should  be  left  to  doubt  of 
the  Christian  state  of  any  person,  duly 
entered  by  baptism  into  the  visible  pro- 
fession of  Christianity." 


Section  XVI. 


©f  Jxzqnmt  (Hommunton. 

u  It  is  an  easy  matter  for  a  man  to  say,  I  will  not 
communicate,  because  I  am  otherwise  hindered  with 
worldly  business.  But  such  excuses  are  not  so  easily 
accepted  and  allowed  before  God." — From  the  Exhor- 
tation in  the  Holy  Communion  Office. 

"  The  primitive  Christians  viewed  it  (the  Lord's 
Supper)  as  replete  with  the  greatest  blessings.  By  its 
frequent  use  their  minds  were  strengthened  and  re- 
freshed. It  prepared  them  for  the  conflicts  they  had  to 
endure.  It  nerved  their  arm,  it  animated  their  hearts ; 
and  should  we  live  to  see  it  as  duly  appreciated  as  it 
was  by  them,  and  as  frequently  observed  as  it  was  in 
primitive  times,  that  coldness  and  apathy  which  distin- 
guishes Christians  of  the  present  day,  would  give  place 
to  a  spirit  of  the  most  sublimating  devotion ;  and  the 
life  and  power  of  religion  warm  every  heart.  It  is  a 
fountain  of  spiritual  life ;  let  us  use  the  medicated 
means.     It  is  a  well  of  salvation  opened  in  the  bosom 


hisiiop  whitf/s  opinion-  95 

oft!  t:  le!  09  drink  of  the  salutary  strofim 

tnd  live  tor  ever.* — Bishop  Mo  r  of  Virginia.  Com 
10. 

Q.  Of  what    is  the  mere    occasional 
celebration    of  the   Holy   Communion 

proof  I 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "Its  being 
attended  to  in  our  Churches  only 
monthly,  and  on  the  three  principal  fes- 
tivals, is  our  of  the  many  proofs  exist- 
ing, that  the  piety  of  Christians  is  not 
»  ardent  as  in  the  beginning.  There 
are  few  facts  more  satisfactorily  proved, 
than  that  of  the  eucharist  having  been 
administered  in  the  primitive  Church 
every  Lord's  day.  Accordingly,  it  seems 
unaccountable,  that  in  some  religious 
societies,  in  which  it  is  administered 
seldomrr  than  among  us,  they  even  cen- 
sure the  administration  of  it  more  fre- 

• 

*  Comment,  p.  195. 


96  BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

quently  than  is  customary  among  them- 
selves ;  and  hold  it  to  be  contrary  to 
Godly  discipline." 


Section  XVII. 

(8)f  t\)t  Vist  of  a  $r0tl)esi0  or  Qxbt  Sable 
for  i\)t  (£kimnt0. 

u  And  the  Priest  shall  then  place  upon  the  Table 
so  much  Bread  and  Wine  as  he  shall  think  sufficient." 
— Rubric  in  the  Holy  Communion  Office. 

"  Let  all  things  be  done  decently  and  in  order." — 
1  Corinth,  xiv.  40. 

Q.  Is  a  Prothesis  or  side  table  for  the 
Elements  in  the  Lord's  Supper,  re- 
quired ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  This  (the 
Rubric  directing  the  elements  to  be 
placed  on  the  altar  just  before  the  prayer 

*  Comment,  p.  201.  202 


r.isHOP  white's  opinions.         97 

for  Christ's  Church  militant)  must  have 
been  in  imitation  of  the  primitive 
Church;  in  which  there  was  a  prothe- 
sis  or  side  table,  lor  the  previous  recep- 
tion of  the  Elements.  The  priest's  re- 
moving of  them  to  the  Lord's  table  was 
considered  as  an  official  act.  It  is  not 
agreeable  to  the  present  writer's  habits 
of  thinking,  to  lay  too  much  stress  on 
matters  of  order;  but  as  the  provision 
now  noticed  was  designed  to  be  an  act 
of  devotion,  although  not  accompanied 
by  words,  he  wishes  for  the  restoration 
of  it,  by  the  reducing  of  practice  to  the 
existing  rule." 


Section  XVIII. 
(Df  Catccljising. 

"The  Mil.  »f  every  Parish  shall  diligently,  upon 

Sund  iys  and  Holy  D.iys,  or  on  some  at  nvenient 

occasions,  openly  in  the  Church,  instruct  or  examine 


98  BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

so  many  children  of  his  Parish,  sent  unto  him,  as  he 
shall  think  convenient,  in  some  part  of  this  Catechism." 
— First  Rubric  after  Catechism- 

"  The  Ministers  of  this  Church  who  have  charge  of 
parishes  or  cures,  shall  not  only  be  diligent  in  instruct- 
ing the  children  in  the  Catechism,  but  shall  also,  by 
stated  catechetical  lectures  and  instruction,  be  diligent 
in  informing  the  young  ,nd  others  in  the  Doctrines, 
Constitution,  and  Liturgy  of  the  Church." — Canon 
xxviii.  of  1832. 


Q.  Is  Catechising  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant duties  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  house 
of  Bishops  thought  it  expedient  to  make 
a  solemn  call  on  the  attention  of  the 
clergy  in  relation  to  the  22d  (now  28th 
of  1832)  Canon,  which  enjoins  on  them 
diligence  in  catechetical  instruction  and 
lectures.  The  Bishops  consider  these 
as  among  the  most  important  duties  of 
clergymen,  and  among  the  most  effectual 
means  of  promoting  religious  knowledge 
and  practical  piety ." 

*  Memoirs,  p.  41. 


BISHOP   WHTTE'l   OPINIONi  99 

Q.  What  is  the  meaning  assigned  by 
'judicious  divines1  b  term  catecheti- 
cal instruction  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "By  this 
term,  they  moan  tin-  repeating  over  and 
over  of  the  same  primary  truths  of  reli- 
gion, until  they  are  made  familiar  to  the 
minds  of  the  instructed  :  a  work  much 
more  useful  to  them  than  what  is  under- 
stood under  the  name  of  preaching  :  al- 
though not  opening  a  like  field  for  the 
ingenuity  or  for  the  eloquence  of  the 
teacher.' 


Section  XIX 

CDf  forms  of  pramr. 

1  And  II    b  id  unto  them,  When  ye  pray,  sav,  "  Our 
r  which  art  in  If    t\u." — ,S7.  Luh ,\i.  2. 

u  It  (a  1  f  Prayer)  prevents  that  pride  of  feeling 

*  Lectures,  p.  3. 


100       BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

from  contaminating  our  devotion,  which  often  arises  from 
individual  effort  ;  it  animates  the  humble  suppliant  in 
his  addresses  to  the  Almighty  ;  it  helps  him  in  his  ap- 
proaches to  a  throne  of  grace.  The  mind  of  a  worship- 
ping assembly,  instead  of  hanging  upon  the  lips  of  a 
public  teacher,  waiting  for  his  expressions,  and  sitting 
in  judgment  upon  the  doctrines  those  expressions  con- 
tain ;  '  instead  of  admiring  the  ornaments  of  the  ves- 
sels, through  which  the  waters  of  healing  flow,  bend 
down  their  heads  in  humility  to  drink  of  the  life-giving 
stream ;'  instead  of  depending  upon  the  production  of 
the  moment,  they  have  the  collective  wisdom  and  piety 
of  ages,  to  assist  them.  Thus  blessed,  their  attention  is 
fixed  upon  God  alone,  and  a  system  of  devotion  secured, 
dignified  and  solemn  in  its  expression,  Scriptural,  and 
agreeable  to  the  truth. ,? — Bishop  Moore,  of  Virginia^ 
Con.  Ser.,  p.  5,  6. 

Q.  Does  our  Church  think  herself 
warranted  in  prescribing  a  form  of 
prayer  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  She  thinks 
it  warranted  by  the  practice  of  the 
Church  in  the  earliest  ages,  as  far  back 
as  any  remains  of  that  practice  are  to  be 
traced;  and  not  by  that  only,  but  by  the 
attendance  of  our  Lord,  on  the  prescribed 

*  Charge  1807,  p.  28. 


bishop  white's  opinions.        101 

devotions  of  the  temple  and  of  the  syna- 
gogue ;  the  evidences  that  they  were 
established  forms  being  equally  authen- 
tic with  those  of  the  four  books,  con- 
taining the  history  of  his  blessed  life." 

Q.  Are  forms  of  prayer  useful  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  There  can 
hardly  be  a  more  effectual  way  of  hold- 
ing up  to  the  minds  of  a  congregation 
the  truths  of  Christianity,  than  through 
the  medium  of  their  being  comprehended 
in  rational  and  evangelical  services  of 
devotion." 

Q.  What  is  our  defence  against  at- 
tacks on  our  forms  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  But,  when 
it  is  alleged,  that  we  advocate  forms  of 
devotion  in  preference  to  the  spirit  of  it, 
we  recollect,  that  without  prescribed 
words,  not  less  than   with  them,  there 


*  Commment.,  p.  176. 

t  Ch.  Con.  Bar.  1825,  p.  11. 


192       bishop  white's  opinions. 

may  be  the  form  without  the  spirit  of 
prayer,  and  that,  to  either  or  to  both  of 
them  there  may  be  applied  the  passage 
of  Scripture,  which  speaks  of  i  having  a 
form  of  Godliness  and  denying  the 
power  thereof;'  the  form,  that  is  the 
show,  or  the  appearance;  for  such  is 
strictly  the  meaning  of  the  original; 
and  not  forms  of  prayer,  on  which  the 
passage  has  no  bearing." 

Q.  Are  forms  of  prayer  a  safeguard  ? 
A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  Of  the 
many  advantages  of  an  authoritative  form 
(of  prayer)  this  is  not  the  least,  that  it 
preaches  the  Gospel  to  the  people,  when 
they  would  look  for  it  in  vain  from  the 
officiating  Minister." 

Q.  Is  the  charge  of  formality  justly 
made  against  us  ? 

A.  Bishop  White   says,f  "  We  ought 

*  Commentaries,  p.  176,  177. 

f  Gen.  Theo.  Sem.  Address,  1828,  p.  9. 


bishop  wiiitf/s  opini   n  103 

not  to  be  charged  with  formaliiw  when 
■  have  for  our  sanction  divine  institu- 
tion under  the  law  ;  and  the  attendance 
of  our  Saviour  and  of  his  Apostles,  as 
Well  on  the  worship  of  the  synagogue  as 
on  that  of  the  temple." 


Sectioh  XX. 

<Pf  tl)c   flramr  Cook, 

•  Next  to  the  Bible,  it  is  the  book  of  my  understand- 
ing and  of  my  heart." — Dr.  Adam   Clan 

The   Liturgy  forum  a  m  of  devotion,  which 

commands  the  approbation  of  tl  .ho  ditfer  from  us 

in  other  things.     It,  Sci  into  a 

mailer  volume :  it  ance  giv<  claim  to 

i  ol  t:  tolar,  and  the  ;         .:  breathii 

of  its   piety  warm  the   heart  and  i:  the  mind  with 

sationst!.         «t  animating  and  <  ling.     It  forms 

an  em*  in  doctrine  ;  no  he- 

i  pollute  the  sanctuary,  while  we 

rrounded  by  such   a   bulwark,  and  defended    by 
I." — Bishop    M  ita,  Con.  Ser. 

p.  5. 

Q.  What  was  the  English    Reform- 


104      bishop  white's  opinions. 

ers'  favorite  object  as  respects  the  Lit- 
urgy? 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "  It  was  a 
favorite  object  with  those  who  reformed 
the  worship  of  the  Church  of  England, 
to  distinguish  between  the  seraphic  de- 
votions of  the  purer  times  and  the  cor- 
ruptions mixed  with  them :  and  to  pre- 
sent the  former  to  the  Church  with 
others  of  their  own  inditing ;  the  effu- 
sions of  a  piety,  which  conducted  some 
of  them  through  a  glorious  martyrdom." 

Q.  May  the  Liturgy  be  disparaged  by 
a  certain  kind  of  preaching  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  Nothing 
can  be  more  true,  or  more  worthy  of  be- 
ing taught,  than  that  forms  of  prayer, 
without  the  spirit  of  it,  are  of  no  avail 
in  the  sight  of  God.  Yet,  if  a  minister 
make  this  a  favorite  theme,  and  always 

*  Con.  Ser.,1786,p.  24. 
f  Sem.  Address,  1822.  p.  7. 


HSBOF  wnri "i:'>  OPINIONS,         105 

with  a  bearing  on  the  proscribed  servi< 
not  guarded  by  the  intimation,  that  for- 
mality may   attach   to  devotions  of  any 
description;  it  is  impossible,  but  that  in 

the  minds  of  hearers  whose  attention  is 
chained  to  his  instructions,  and  with 
whom  he  is  perhaps  a  sort  of  oracle, 
there  will  ensue  an  ideal  association  be- 
tween our  Liturgy  and  deadness  to  the 
life  and  powrr  <>t  Godliness." 

Q.  Should  the  Liturgy  be  carefully 
guarded  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Every  se- 
rious Clergyman  of  our  Church,  inde- 
pendently of  the  promises  made  by  him 
of  conformity  to  the  Liturgy,  ought  to 
be  careful  not  to  contribute  to  the  pulling 
down  of  this  venerable  enclosure  of  our 
orthod       .  by  substituting  any  of   the 

*  Commentaries  p.   IT" 


106      bishop  white's  opinions. 

practices  with  which  that  sacred  pro- 
perty of  it  may  seem  unconnected." 

Q.  Are  the  responses  requisite  to  the 
full  efficacy  of  our  services  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "The  ser- 
vice is  such  as  no  wise  men  would  have 
prepared,  except  with  the  expectation 
that  the  people  would  perform  their 
part  by  being  responsive  to  the  Minister." 

Q.  Should  kneeling  be  practised  in  our 
service  ?  \ 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "If  any 
should  hesitate  to  kneel  in  prayer,  not- 
withstanding the  examples  in  Scripture 
to  the  effect,  let  them  be  aware  how  lit- 
tle they  appear  to  feel  their  character 
of  sinners,  in  their  approaches  to  the 
mercy  seat  of  a  holy  God." 

Q.  Should  we  reject  a  matter  merely 

*  Considerations,  p,  3. 
f  Considerations,  p.  3. 


BfflBOff    WIITTl/s    OPIM     \S.  \(H 

because  it  occurs  in  the  Roman  Catholic 
Ritual  ? 
A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  I  am  sorry 

that  our  Reformers  did  not  make  use  of 
the  other  term  (iirst  day  of  the  week)  in 
our.  Liturgy;  icially  as   it  is  con- 

stantly used  in  the  Roman  Catholic 
ritual;  from  which  it  was  a  professed 
object  not  to  deviate  unnecessarily." 


Section  XXI 
(Df  Daily  |)rager  in  tlje  (Cl)urcl). 

all  be  rh  once  every  month, 

.  both  t  -r  Itormilg  and  E  7(  ning 
Pi  ike  Pr  '  . 

■her  into  the  torn- 
hour  of  pr-  ing  the  ninth  hour.'1 — The 

:.   1. 

m  a  iir  at  many  of  n-  |  Baiiy, 

in  ti.  .  \\  ho  disdain 

to  come  iiit  ihhof  the  wry 

*  Three  letters  to  Ed.  A.  Q.  Rev.,  p.  4. 


108        BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

name  of  the  Jews,  when  we  hear  it.  as  if  a  most  wicked 
and  ungodly  people.  But  it  is  to  be  feared,  that  in  this 
point  we  be  far  worse  than  the  Jews,  and  that  they  shall 
rise  at  the  day  of  Judgment  to  our  condemnation,  who 
in  comparison  of  them,  shew  such  slackness  and  con- 
tempt in  resorting  to  the  house  of  the  Lord,  there  to 
serve  him,  according  as  we  are  of  duty  most  bound." — 
The  Homilies,  p.  156. 

Q.  Is  it  notorious  that  the  Calendar 
was  constructed  with  a  view  to  the 
daily  Morning  and  Evening  Service  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  uses  the  following 
expression,*  "  The  notoriety  that  the 
Calendar  was  constructed  with  a  view  to 
a  daily  morning  and  evening  service." 

Q.  Do  our,  and  our  mother  Church,  ap- 
prove of  services  on  other  days  than 
Sunday  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  The  said 
Churches  keep  up  the  practice  of  the 
primitive  Church,  in  regard  to  what 
were  called  her  stationary  days,  in  which 


*  Memoirs,  p.  53. 

f  Lectures,  p.  489,  490. 


bishop  white's  opinions.        109 

her  assemblies  were  held  within  th 
compass  of  the  week.  It  is  certainU 
the  case,  that  there  are  a  considerable 
proportion  of  Christian  people,  who  can- 
not conveniently,  and  who  ought  not  to 
leave  their  worldly  occupations,  for  a 
compliance  with  these  intermediate  oc- 
casions of  devotion.  On  the  other  hand, 
there  are  in  every  populous  vicinity,  not 
a  few  who  may  profit  by  this  means  of 
keeping  alive  the  flame  of  devout  affec- 
tion." 

Q.  What  does  Bishop  White  say  of 
the  Litany  or  "  Prayer"  days  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "The  obser- 
vance of  them  in  the  Episcopal  Church, 
is  a  continuation  of  what  was  known  in 
the  primitive  aires,  under  the  name  of 
"  Stationary  Days."  As  they  come  to 
us  through  the  channel  of  our  mother 


*  Con-julerationss  p.  3. 

4 


1 10       bishop  white's  opinions. 

Church,  the  intended  extent  of  the  ob- 
servance of  them  should  be  learned 
from  her  Canons.  The  fifteenth  ex- 
presses the  wish,  that  every  householder, 
living  within  half  a  mile  of  the  Church, 
would  come  or  send  one  at  least  of  his 
household,  to  join  with  the  minister  in 
prayers." 

"  There  are  few  families,  who  may 
not  spare  a  member  for  the  purpose; 
and  of  heads  of  families  possessing 
leisure,  it  would  be  an  edifying  example 
if  they  were  to  give  encouragement  to 
a  practice  which  has  been  dear  to  many 
godly  persons,  from  the  earliest  ages  to 
the  present." 

Bishop  White,*  speaking  of  the  sub- 
ject of  Church  psalmody,  notices  with- 
out disapprobation  the  daily  prayer  in 
an  English  Church.     "  The  author  is 

*  Thoughts  on  the  Singing  of  Psalms,  p.  3.  note. 


bishop  white's  opinions.       11 1 

strengthened  in  his  opinion  by  inspec- 
tion of  a  small  book  in  his  possession, 
containing  selectioi  psalms  and  tunes 
purportir  to  be  sung  in  the  Parish 
Church  of  St,  James,  Westminster.  In 
that  Church  there  is  morning  and  eve- 
ning  service  daily  throughout  the  y ear, 
and  vet  the  number  of  tunes  is  twenty." 

Q.  What  is  "  no  slender  evidence  of 
a  devotional  spirit  Vs 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  It  will  pro- 
bal)lv  be  no  slender  evidence  of  a  devo- 
tional  spirit,  if  it  cause  an  habitual 
attendance  on  the  service  of  the  Church, 
when  it  is  performed  in  a  severance 
from  the  instructions  and  the  exhorta- 
tions of  the  pulpit :  a  practice  which  we 
have  inherited  from  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, and  which  will  always  be  cherished 
by  many  devout  people,  whose  duties  of 

*  Gen.  Theo.  Bent  Address,  1829,  p.  16. 


1 12       BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

life  permit  their  withdrawing  of  a  small 
portion  of  their  time  from  their  worldly 
occupations,  for  an  attendance  on  the 
strictly  speaking  devotional  services  of 
the  sanctuary." 


Section   XXII. 
©f  $olu  IDags  emir  tjjnr  Gbbsttvanct. 

u  The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed." — Prov.  x.  7. 

"  Then  the  Minister  shall  declare  unto  the  people 
what  Holy  days,  or  Fasting  days,  are  in  the  week  fol- 
lowing to  be  observed." — Rubric  in  the  Prayer  Book. 

"  There  appeareth  at  these  days  great  slackness  and 
negligence  of  a  great  sort  of  people,  in  resorting  to  the 
Church,  there  to  serve  God  their  Heavenly  Father,  ac- 
cording to  their  most  bounden  duty." — Homilies,  p.  151. 

Q.  Is  there  superstition  in  the  obser- 
vance of  our  Church's  festival  days  ? 

A.  Bishop  White,  in  a  sermon  on  the 
festival  of  the  Holy  Innocents,  says,* 

*P.  3,  4, 


bishop  white's  opink  Nfl        113 

"  Although  there  is  danger  in  the  laying 
undue   rtresfl   on   any   observances 

which  religious  discretion  has  {ire- 
scribed;  yet  if  there  be  wisdom  in  the 
appointment  of  occasional  days  for  the 
acknowledging  of  local  and  temporal 
benefits,  there  cannot  be  superstition  in 
the  annual  commemoration  of  events,  in 

rich  the  whole  Christian  world  is  in- 
terested, and  which  are  connected  with 
all  our  spiritual  interests  and  hopes." 

Q.  Does  the  Church  provide  that  the 
holy  days  shall  be  celebrated  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  Church 
has  provided,  that  the  slaughter  of  the 
babes  of  Bethlehem  shall   be  annually 

collected  in  our  devotions." 

Q.  Are   the    Epistles    and    Gospels, 

;>ecially  those  for  the  holy  days,  most 
la  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "It  may  be 

*  Srrmon  on  t:      I    stival  of  the  Holy  Innocents,  p.  1. 
lemoirs,  p.   246. 


1 14       bishop  white's  opinions. 

questioned,  whether  their  judicious  se- 
lection had  not  the  effect,  in  the  middle 
ages,  in  preventing  the  corruptions  of 
Christianity  from  being  greater  than  we 
find  them  to  have  been;  for  when  it 
was  rare  to  find  a  Bible  in  the  hands  even 
of  men  of  education,  those  precious  por- 
tions of  it  must  have  had  some  effect, 
although  in  Latin.  At  the  Reformation, 
they  were  retained  by  the  most  respect- 
able of  the  Protestant  Churches;  the 
English,  the  Lutheran  in  Sweden,  Den- 
mark, Germany  and  America  ;  all  which, 
with  the  addition  of  the  American,  con- 
tinue the  use  of  them  to  the  present 
day ;  and  with  so  high  an  esteem  of 
them,  that  in  some  of  these  Churches, 
the  preacher  is  expected  to  take  his  sub- 
ject from  this  selection/' 

Q.  Can  the  observance  of  the  principal 
Holy  Days  be  safely  omitted  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  saysf,   "  They  can 

*  Commentaries,  p.  159. 


BISHOP  white's  opinion-.  1 15 

hardly  be  overlooked  by  any  minister, 
without  his  giving  of  cause  to  suspect 
the  soundness  of  his  faith. 


Section  XXIII. 

(CH  tl]c  (Dbjcct  of   Religious   Assemblies, 
a\\b  of  2Coiicltn  in  Sermons. 

•  I*    -  v.  -  tt<  n.    My  H  ;he  House  of  Praye^ 

—  N\   L    '    .  \;.\.  46. 

••  I3ut  refuse  profane  and  old  wives1  fables,  and  exer- 
cise thyself  rather  unto  godli  " — l  Tim.  iv.  7. 

M  For  all  the  Athenians    and  strangers  which  were 

the^  nt  their  time  in  nothing  else,  hut  either  to  tell 

or  to  hear  some  new  thing." — The  A   '>.  wii.  21, 

Q.  What  is  the  consistent  Church- 
man's view  of  religious  assemhlies  ? 

Am  Bishop  White  says,*  "It  is  a  re- 
mark frequent  in  the  mouths  of  con- 
sistent  members    of    our    communion, 

*  Comment,  p.  135. 


1 16       BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

that  the  chief  design  of  holding  reli- 
gious assemblies,  should  be  the  engaging 
in  the  exercises  of  worship,"  (as  dis- 
tinguished from  preaching.) 

Q.  What  is  the  end  of  religious  as- 
sembling ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  end  of 
religious  assembling,  is  for  the  worship 
of  Almighty  God,  which  is  proof  that 
the  due  ordering  of  this,  ought  to  be  the 
principal  concern  of  those" who  have  the 
conducting  of  it,  and  the  principal  ob- 
ject of  the  attendants." 

Q.  May  "the  principal  object"  of 
religious  assembling  be  lost  sight  of  by 
an  incorrect  view  of  preaching  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  There  are 
many,  however,  who  are  ardent  in  their 
desires  for  the  hearing  of  sermons; 
while  by  their  late  coming  to  the  pray- 

*  Gen.  Theol.  Sem,  Address,  1829,  p.  14. 
f  Gen.  Theo.  Sem=  Address,  1829,  p.  15. 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  OPINIONS.         117 

ers,  by  the  little  interest  manifi  art  !  in 
them,  and   by  contriving,  in  proportion 

to  any  influence  which  they  may  pos- 
sess, to  dispense  With  as  much  of  the 
prayers  and  of  the  reading  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, ;;-  shall  be  thought  consistent 
with  decorum,  they  manif  an  une- 
qui\  1  symptom  of  incorrect  views  of 
religion  generally .M 

Q.  What  are  the  principal  objects  for 
which  Christians  should         mble  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  saj  s,*  "  This  Church 
like  the  Church  from  which  she  is  de- 
scended, lays  the  greater  stress  on  a  ju- 
dicious arrangement  of  forms  of  prayer; 
from  the  opinion  entertained,  that  joint 
devotion,  and  the  reading  and  the  hear- 
ing of  the  Scriptures,  are  the  principal 
object  for  which  Christians  should  as- 
sembh       By  the  same   track  of  senti- 

*  Lecturr?,  p.  490. 


1 18       bishop  white's  opinions. 

ment,  they  have  been  led  to  accommo- 
date their  offices,  to  the  being  used  with 
or  without  the  accompaniment  of  a  ser- 
mon. It  is  not  from  the  wTant  of  due 
esteem  of  the  benefit  of  the  latter,  but 
from  respect  to  the  prominent  import- 
ance of  the  other." 

Q.  Is  novelty  possible  in  religious 
subjects  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  On  reli- 
gious subjects,  it  is  difficult  to  find  out, 
for  persons  habitually  attendant  in  the 
House  of  God,  either  general  arguments 
or  appropriate  remarks,  which  shall 
be  entirely  new  to  them.  Besides,  it 
may  be  affirmed  of  any  preacher,  with 
whom  the  doing  so  is  a  favorite  object, 
that  he  will  be  less  likely  to  feed  them 
with  the  solid  and  wholesome  food  of 
evangelical  instruction,  than  with  the 

*  Comment,  p.  1 37, 


BISHOP  WHITF/S  OPINIONS.  1  19 

frothy  garnish  of  some  empty  Conceits; 
or  perhaps   with  the  deadly  poison   of 

me  dangerous  errors." 

Q,  What  was  the  character  of  primi- 
tive preaching  I 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "It  is  said, 
that  within  the  first  two  or  three  centu- 
ries, the  usual  practice  of  the  Christian 
clergy  was,  after  the  prayers,  to  make 
a  discourse  in  explanation  of  some  part 
of  Scripture,  with  an  improvement  of  it, 
all  in  the  utmost  simplicity  of  style.'" 

Q.  Is  "  an  extraordinary  appetite"  for 
sermons  a  certain  test  of  a  "  well  di- 
gested theory  of  religion 

A.  Bishop  White  ^.f  "It  would, 
how  r,  be  a  mistake  to  infer  that  the 
use  of  the  pulpit  will  he  in  proportion 
to  the  number  of  sermons  from  it.  This 
is  so  far  from  being  the  i  ,  that  an 
extraordinary  appetite   for  them,   espe- 

*  Comment,  p.  164. 

t  Gen.  Sem.  Address,  1829,  p.  II 


120      bishop  white's  opinions. 

cially  when  it  carries  in  quest  of  great 
variety,  is  seldom  found  in  alliance 
either  with  an  eminent  adorning  of  the 
profession,  or  with  a  consistent  and  well 
digested  theory  of  religion." 

Q.  Is  reading  the  Holy  Scriptures 
"  preaching  ?" 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "He  (the 
Minister)  may  be  said  more  strictly  and 
authoritatively  to  preach,  when  he  deliv- 
ers the  same  truths  (of  Holy  Writ)  in  the 
form  in  which  the  Holy  Ghost  has  been 
pleased  to  indite  them.  Accordingly, 
that  reading  of  the  Scriptures  in  Churches 
is  preaching,  may  be  gathered  from  what 
we  find  said  by  St.  James,  in  his  speech 
to  the  Apostles  and  Elders  assembled  in 
Jerusalem — c  Moses  of  old  time  hath  in 
every  city  them  that  preach  him,  being 
read  in  the  synagogues  'every  Sabbath- 
day.5" 

*  Lectures,  p.  499. 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  OPINIONS.  121 


Section  XXIV. 
(Of  JJnsuborbinotioil  anb    Irregularity. 

••  I  Ibey  them  that  have  the  rule  over  you,  and  inb- 
uilt your  .'' — //  xiii.  17. 

Q,  Will  you  reverently  obey  your  Bishop,  and 

other  chief'  ministers,  who,  according  to  the  Canons  of 

the  Church,  may  have  the  charge  and  government  < 
you  :  following,  with  a  glad  mind  and  will,  their  godly 
admonitions,  and  n&btnitting  yourselves  to  their  godly 
judfrmeii 

\.  1  will  so  do.  the  Lord  being  my  helper.*1 — From 

the  Ordinal. 

i'  r  where  there  fa  no  riirht  order,  there  reigneth 
all  I  trnal  liberty,  enormity.  .-in.  and  Babylonical 

confusion." — Homi  104. 

Q.  What  evil  must  be  guarded  against 
in  connexion  with  the  Church's  laws  ! 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  It  is  that 
of  a  man's  entering  the  Church,  not 
contemplating  the  being  subject  to  the 
Canons,  and  conducting  his  subsequent 
ministry  in  defiance  of  them,  and  of  the 
authority  by  which  they  were  ordained." 

*  Comment,  p.  21. 


122      bishop  white's  opinions. 

Q.  Is  the  abbreviating  of  the  Liturgy 
a  fault  ? 

A%  Bishop  White  says,*  "  When  we 
hear  of  a  minister's  abbreviating  of  the 
appointed  service,  and  of  his  being  co- 
pious in  that  unappointed,  if  permitted 
part,  in  which  his  own  conceptions  are 
brought  forward;  we  may  perceive 
plainly  enough,  that  he  considers  the 
whole  of  the  former  as  needless  tram- 
mels on  him,  however  he  may  partially 
conform  to  it  for  the  sake  of  decorum  to 
his  engagements ;  or  perhaps  from  being 
aware,  that  a  proportion  of  his  hearers 
entertain  a  predilection  for  the  Church 
into  which  he  has  intruded." 

Q.  Should  there  not  be  a  due  regard 
to  the  discipline  of  our  Church,  and  to 
the  order  of  its  services  ? 

*  Commment.,  p.  178. 


BI8H0P  WHITE'S  opinion-.         1*23 

(.  Bishop  Whil       ys,*  M  With  some, 
the  n  is  of  the  Church  have  had 

little   weight   in   this    matter,  although 
consented  to  by  their  voluntary  promi- 

in  the  act  of  their  admission  to  the 
ministry.  What  aggravates  the  guilt  of 
sucli  conduct,  is  the  godly  zeal  which 
has  b<  prof.  1  as  its  cause,  and  the 
apology  for  it.  Strange  perversion  !  to 
suppose  that  Godliness  can,  in  any  way, 
sup«  ie  the  eternal  maxims  of  moral 
obligation ;  or  justify  men  in  making 
stipulations,  which  they  have  no  inten- 
tion of  complying  with.  But  as  the 
end,  if  it  had  been  good,  would  not 
hfl  iled  the  m«         ;  so  the  general 

tendency  of  such  a  zeal,  is  to  confusion 
and  i  il  work." 

Q.  Has  the  Church  ever  had  a  cause 

•  Ord.  Ser.,   1825,  p.   17,  18. 


124       bishop  white's  opinions. 

of  regret  in  the  deviations  from  her  pre- 
scribed services  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  other 
cause  of  regret  was,  in  some  ministers' 
deviations  from  the  clear  senses  of  these 
answers  in  the  services,  which  give  the 
pledge  of  adherence  to  our  Liturgy ;  and 
of  submission  to  an  authority  recognized 
by  our  system  of  ecclesiastical  govern- 
ment, and  by  the  Canons.  It  is  impos- 
sible, that  this  conduct  can  be  vindicated 
by  any  professions  of  piety,  supposing 
them  to  be  sincere ;  but  I  must  declare 
the  opinion,  that  it  has  been  chiefly 
owing  either  to  vanity  or,  under  the 
most  favorable  circumstances,  to  views 
of  the  dispensations  of  grace,  differing 
from  those  sustained  in  the  Church  of 
England,  and  in  this  Church.  The  most 
favorable  interpretation  to   be   put  on 

*  Commentaries,  Pref.  add.  p.  12. 


bishop  WHITE'!  opinions.        125 

.such  i  s,  is  that  the  parties,  perhaps 
insensibly  to  themselves,  have  no  pre- 
ference of  our  ministry,  otherwise  than 
as  it  is  a  door  to  our  Churches,  not  oth- 
erwise to  be  entered." 

Q.  Should  we  resist  any  deterioration 
of  the  Church's  institutions? 

L  Bishop  White  says,*  "Against 
every  thing  of  this  sort,  of  possible  in- 
jury to  the  Church,  by  any  threatened 
deterioration  of  her  institutions,  it  is  his 
design,  under  Divine  permission,  to  bear 
his  testimony;  and,  so  far  as  it  may  be 
in  his  power,  to  put  forth  his  best  en- 
deavors, to  the  latest  period  of  his  life." 

Q.  Is  "  unauthorized  authority"  more 
arbitrary  than  leural  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  Any  inva- 
sion of  his  (the  Bishop's)  just  rights, 
will  have  a  tendency  to  the  placing  of 

*  Addic        I    Msec,  of  Bp.  EL  U.  On  p.  18. 

f  Add.  at  Bishop  0?s.  Consec.  p.    17. 


126      BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

power  in'  the  hands  of  persons,  whose 
'little  finger'  of  unauthorized  author- 
ity, will  be  heavier  than  'the  loins' 
of  an  authority  made  legal  by  the 
Constitution  and  the  Canons  of  the 
Church." 

Q.  What  is  the  plea  for  departing 
from  this  order  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "The  plea 
for  departing  from  this  order,  is  the 
greater  increase  of  piety,  But  may  not 
men  be  under  the  government  of  a  piety, 
mixed  with  much  error  ?  They  may  ; 
and,  in  this  instance  of  the  violation  of 
order,  they  surely  are.  I  mean,  where 
piety  of  any  sort  is  the  motive ;  for,  in 
the  greater  number  of  the  instances  fall- 
ing under  my  observation,  I  have  been 
compelled  to  ascribe  it  to  mere  vanity 
and  the  exaltation  of  self." 

*  Charge  1807,  p.  28, 


bishop  white's  opinions.       127 

Q.  What  will  be  the  result  of  lax  dis- 
cipline OD  the  part  of  a  Pastor  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  If  the  pas- 
lax  in  the  administration  of  eccle- 
siastical discipline!  he  can  hardly  blame 
even  a  greater  degree  of  laxity  among 
his  parishioners  ;  and,  particularly,  in 
points  in  which  his  individual  interests 
mav  be  concerned.  There  is  the 
greater  reason  to  notice  this,  because  of 
the  readiness  of  those  prone  to  violate 
institutions,  to  make  loud  complaints, 
when  they  are  violated  to  their  own  dis- 
advantage. But  such  ought  to  be  aware, 
that  if  they  set  the  example  of  an  eman- 
cipation from  discipline,  it  is  in  the  ec- 
clesiastical line  as  in  the  civil,  that  the 
leaders  in  such  license  are  not  the  com- 
petent judges,  as  to  the  lengths  to  which 
it  may  ]       xlended," 

*  Comment,  p.  90. 


128       bishop  white's  opinions. 

Q.  How  may  the  34th  Article  be 
considered  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says/  "  Then  fol- 
lows a  censure  on  those,  who  wantonly 
offend  against  the  public  provisions  of 
the  Church  :  which  is  a  useful  admoni- 
tion to  all  her  members,  and  especially 
to  her  ministers  ;  who,  when  they  break 
loose  from  the  ties  of  the  Rubrics  and 
of  the  Canons,  may  find  a  condemnation 
of  their  conduct  in  this  Article  ;  which 
they  had  solemnly  promised  to  conform 
to,  before  they  were  admitted  to  the 
ministry,  and  thereby  became  furnished 
with  an  opportunity  of  violating  its 
order." 

*  Lectures,  p.  183. 


BISHOP  white's  OPINIONS.         129 


Section   XXV. 
(Df  C!?L>ucation  on  £l)urcl)  principles. 

••  And  that  he  may  know  these  things  the  l>etter.  ve 
-hall  call  upon  him  to  hoar  sermon-  ;  and  chiefly  ye 
-hall  provide,  that  he  may  learn  the  Creed,  the  Loral 
Prayer,  and  the  Ten  Commandment.-,  and  all  other 
things  which  a  Christian  ought  to  know  and  believe  to 
his  soul's  health." — Fmm  the  Baptismal  Office. 

And    their    children  spake   half  in  the    speech  of 
\-hdod.  and  could   not    speak  in  the   Jew.-'    lanrniarre. 
but  according  to  the  language  of  each  people. r — AeA  - 
ik,  xiii.  '2  I. 

Q.  Can  vi  consistently  adopt  the 
principle  in  education,  of  indifference  to 
the  peculiar  tenets  of  the  Church  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "  The  prin- 
ciple cannot  he  acted  on  in  the  work  of 
education,  consistently  With  fidelity  to 
the  Gospel  Ministry." 

*  Ser.  on  Holy  Innocents'  Day,  p.  10. 


130     bishop  white's  opinions. 


Section  XXVI. 
©f  %  Otyirts-flme  Article*. 

"  And  the  next  day  he  shewed  himself  unto  them  as 
they  strove,  and  would  have  set  them  at  one  again,  say- 
ing, Sirs,  ye  are  brethren." — The  Acts,  vii.  26. 

Q.  What  is.  the  design  of  the  Arti- 
cles ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "  he  further 
believes,  that  the  Articles  were  framed 
to  avoid,  not  indeed  all  possible  differ- 
ence of  opinion,  on  questions  which 
may  be  raised  on  religious  subjects  ;  but 
difference  as  to  the  points,  on  which 
the  framers  of  the  Articles  thought  it 
necessary  to  determine." 

Q.  Were  the  Thirty-Nine  Articles 
drawn  up  with  an  accommodation  to 
Calvinism  ? 

f  Comp,  Views,  vol.  ii.  p.  239. 


BISHOP  WHITE1*  OPINION!  1  >  1 

A.  Bi  p  White  says*,  "He  is  free 
to  confess,  that  there  was  a  time,  when 
he  thought  the  Arti  in  particular  to 
have  been  drawn  up  with  an  accommo- 
dation to  the  opposite  opinions  treated 
of  in  this  work.  Further  inquiry  con- 
vinced him,  that  in  part  he  was  mista- 
ken;  that  the  Reformers  of  the  Church 
of  England  did  ii.        !  accommodate  to 

o 

an  opposition  of  opinion,  existing  as 
early  as  the  fifth  century  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  ;  hut  that  subsequently  to 
the  period  of  the  Reformation,  there 
arose  on  one  of  the  sides  referred  to 
(Calvinism)  very  important  superaddi- 
tions  ;  which  could  not  have  !  i  con- 
templated in  the  institutions  of  the 
Church  of  England,  and  to  which  they 
are  directly  in  opposition." 

Q.  Had  the  Thirty-Nine  Articles  of 

*  Comp.  \         .vol.  i.  p.  \]. 


132       bishop  white's  opinions. 

the  Church  of  England  been  Calvinistic, 
would  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
have  ever  recognized  them  as  part  of 
her  system  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  It  is  not  to 
be  wondered  at,  that  after  the  confident 
assertions  which  have  been  made,  and 
after  the  great  zeal  which  has  been  dis- 
played, to  prove  the  Articles  of  the 
Church  of  England  Calvinistic;  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Uni- 
ted States,  should  for  some  time  have 
hesitated,  as  to  the  expressly  recog- 
nizing of  them  to  be  a  part  of  their  sys- 
tem. Whatever  hazards  might  have 
been  run  in  the  editing  of  a  confession 
materially  new ;  the  danger  ought  cer- 
tainly to  have  been  encountered  in  pre- 
ference to  the  establishing  of  a  standard, 
from  which  the  sentiments  of  the  Epis- 

*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  ii.  p.  189,  190. 


BISHOP    WHITS'fl    OPINION-.  133 

copal  Clergy,  and  of  Episcopalians  gen- 
erally, would   have  beeD   diverse;  for 

that  this  incongruity  would  have  been 
the  consequence,  ran  hardly  he  douhted 
of  by  any  who  know  the  state  of  the 
communion  in  question.  It  lias  contri- 
buted much  to  the  union  of  that  Church, 
and,  as  may  reasonably  be  hoped,  will 
operate  to  her  perpetuity  :  that,  on  ma- 
ture consideration,  there  has  taken  place 
the  conviction,  that  while  the  Articles 
contain  all  the  necessary  truths  distin- 
guishing the  Christian  system,  they  do 
not  embrace  the  superstructure  of  Cal- 
vinism, unnecessarily  laid  on  their  foun- 
dation." 

Q.  Whence  has  arisen  th<  union 
of  the  Calvinistic  description  of  our  Ar- 
ticles ? 

A.   Ih^hop  White  says*,  "  The  opin- 

Comn 


134       bishop  white's  opinions. 

ion  of  the  Calvinistic  description  of  the 
Articles,  seems  to  have  arisen  from  the 
tendency  to  Calvinism  in  the  Clergy  of 
the  Church  of  England,  after  the  san- 
guinary reign  of  Mary.  And  yet  it  does 
not  appear  that  in  the  reign  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  the  favorers  of  the  system 
were  so  apt  to  plead  the  authority  of 
the  Articles,  as  the  example  of  what  they 
thought  the  best  reformed  Churches." 

Q.  Were  not  "the  Lambeth  Arti- 
cles" Calvinistic  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "The  Cal- 
vinism of  the  Lambeth  Articles,  is  not 
to  be  denied ;  but  what  occasion  was 
there  for  them,  if  their  sense  had  been 
already  declared  in  the  Thirty-Nine  (Ar- 
ticles) ?" 

Q.  To  what  reign  must  we  look  for 
ascertaining  the  meaning  of  the  Articles? 

*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  2.  p.  181. 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  OIMMon-  135 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "That  (the 

reign  of   Edward  VI.)  is  the   period,  to 

which  we  should  look  for  the  consent- 
ing testimonies  6f  individuals,  in  order 
to  ascertain  the  meaning  of  the  Arti- 
cles." 


Section  XXVII. 
(Pf  (Talinnism. 

Will  you  be   ready,  with  all   faithful  diligence,  to 
;tnd  drive  away  from  the  Church,  all  erroneous 
and  strange  doctrines  contrary  to   God's  Word  ?" — 
fVoM  the  Ordinal. 

In  our  doings,  that  will  of  God  is  to  be    followed, 
which  pre  h  dy  declared  unto  us  IB  the  Word 

of  God." — /  \       i  ii. 

Q.  What  is  the  Scripture  view  of  pre- 
destination  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "It  is  agn 

*  Comp.  \  ierwft,  vol.  1.  p.  -J37. 
t  Cuiinnviit.  p.  80. 


136       bishop  white's  opinions. 

able  to  Scripture  also,  if,  as  is  conceived 
to  be  the  case,  the  predestination  of 
which  it  speaks,  be  of  the  collective 
body  of  a  Church,  and  in  reference  to 
their  state  of  covenant  with  God,  in  the 
present  life." 

Q.  Are  the  peculiarities  of  Calvinism 
of  human  invention  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "he  con- 
ceives of  the  peculiarities  of  Calvinism; 
that  they  are  human  inventions ;  intro- 
duced, at  no  very  early  period,  into  Chris- 
tian theology." 

♦  Q.  Are  the  doctrines  of  Calvinism  un- 
reasonable ? 

A.  Bishop  Whitef  speaks  of  them  as 
"  doctrines  so  shocking  as  those  of 
Calvinism  are  here  conceived  to  be  to 
the  reason  of  mankind." 

Q.  Is  Calvinism  unscriptural  ? 

*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  121. 
f  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  125. 


bishop  wnnr/s  opinions.       137 

Aa  Bishop  White  says*,  "The  ho{ 
is  indulged  of  their  having  been  shown, 
that  there  is  no  ground  in  Scripture  for 
the  doctrine  of  predestination,  in  the 
•use  in  which  the  word  is  commonly 
used  ;  nor  for  the  tenets  which  are  its 
usual  accompaniments.  If  so,  they  r< 
on  human  conjecture  and  human  rea- 
sonings; and  the  belief  of  this  will  be 
the  more  confirmed,  if  it  should  be 
proved,  as  may  be  done,  that  they  began 
to  be  introduced  about  four  hundred 
years  after  the  promulgation  oi  Chris- 
tianity." 

Q.  Do  not  some  of  the  Homilies  of  the 
Second  Book  go  further  in  describing 
the  sin  of  man,  than  the  Homily  on 
that  subject  in  the  First  Book  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  savs,f  "It  is  not  to 
be  denied,  that  some  of  the  Homilies  of 

*  Tom.  V  vol.  i.  p.  34 

f  Coin.  Vi  ii.  p.  1 17. 


138       bishop  white's  opinions. 

the  Second  Book,  ■  go  further  than  the 
aforesaid  Homily  of  the  first.  But  this 
circumstance,  is  not  decisive  as  to  the 
sense  of  the  Reformers.  The  Second 
Book,  although  composed  in  the  reign  of 
Edward,  was  not  established  until  after 
the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Elizabeth : 
and  there  is  internal  evidence  of  its  hav- 
ing undergone  a  review.  It  must  be 
confessed  of  some  of  the  Homilies  of  the 
Second  Book,  that  they  contain  sen- 
tences which  go  to  the  extent  of  the 
imputation  of  the  sin  of  Adam.  If  this 
were  designed,  it  is  at  the  expense  of 
incongruity  with  the  Anti-Calvinistic 
sentiments  of  some  of  the  homilies  of 
the  same  Book." 

Q.  Is  there  any  Homily  on  predesti- 
nation ? 

A.  Bishop   White   says,*  "  There  is 

*  Lectures^  p.  268, 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  OPINION*  139 

indeed  do  Homily  on  predestination  or 

on  election:  and  this  is  a  proof,  thai  the 

•use  of  the  compilers  was  not  in  unison 

with   those   confessions   and    systems. 

■ 

which  enjoin  and  maintain  the  propriety 
of  preaching  on  this  point." 

Q,  Should  any  one  wish  to  prove  the 
Church  Calvinistic  ? 

!.  Bi  p  White  says, *  "Why  should 
there  be  a  wish  to  prove  the  Church 
Calvinistic,  at  the  expense  of  ascribing 
to  her  a  del  \  which  throws  an  air  of 
inconsistency  over  all  her  institutions." 

Q,  "How  has  it  happened,  that  so 
many  have  confidently  affirmed  the 
Calvinism  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land ?" 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "The  answer 
is — It  has  not  been  by  adducing,  with 
even  a  plausible  appearance,  any  direct 

*  Com  p.  View?,  vol.  ii.  p.  1» 

f  Comp<  V       .  vol.  ii.  p.  90, 


140      bishop  white's  opinions. 

evidences  from  her  institutions ;  but  by 
confidently  affirming,  that  they  who 
framed  them  were  Calvinistic  in  their 
opinions." 

Q.  Is  it  true  that  the  compilers  of  the 
Liturgy  were  Calvinistic  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  opin- 
ions of  these  good  men  must  have  been 
in  direct  contrariety  to  the  standard  on 
the  present  point  (Calvinism)  establish- 
ed by  the  Synod  of  Dort." 

Q.  When  was  the  doctrine  of  final 
perseverance  set  up  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  After  that 
time,  (viz :  above  fifteen  hundred  years 
after  the  commencement  of  the  Chris- 
tian era,)  there  was  set  up  the  doctrine, 
that  those  once  in  grace  cannot  finally 
fall  from  it." 

Q.  What  is  Bishop  White's  testimony 

*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  ii.  p.  80. 
f  Lectures,  p.  17. 


bishop  whitsM  opinion-.       141 

on  the  effects  of  the  system  of  "  Assur- 
ance ?M 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  He  has 
known  sincere  and  virtuous  persons  dis- 
posed to  tolerate  in  professors  very  great 
delinquencies,  believing  them  to  be  com- 
patible with  grace;  merely  on  the 
credit  of  occasional  influences  of  the 
same  animal  sensibility;  whereas  in 
others,  a  much  higher  grade  of  inward 
and  outward  rectitude,  and  a  regular  dis- 
charge of  devotional  duties,  would  pass 
with  the  same  pious  persons  for  mere 
legal  righteousness ;  or  a  splendid  spe- 
cies of  sinfulness,  not  at  all  consistent 
with  a  state  of  acceptance  with  God." 

Q.  Is  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans  Cal- 
vinistic  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "Had  the 
Epistle  consisted  of  such  a  series  of  sub- 

*  lecture?,  p.  244,  245. 

f  Comp.  VieWB,  vol.  i.  p.  47,  48. 


142       BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

jects  as  Calvinism  supposes,  a  writer 
disclosing  them  to  the  world  under  the 
influence  of  inspiration,  might  fitly  bow 
in  submission  under  a  sense  of  the  fear- 
ful sovereignty,  illustrating  its  glory  in 
the  damnation  of  millions  of  intelligent 
creatures,  appointed  to  them  before 
their  being  called  into  existence,  and 
without  any  undeservings  of  their  own, 
further  than  as  these  were  the  contem- 
plated means  by  which  the  last  awful 
issue  should  be  brought  about.  But 
that,  in  such  a  writer,  the  theme  should 
awaken  feelings,  like  those  which  seem 
to  have  possesed  the  mind  of  the  Apos- 
tle, is  surely  one  of  the  most  extraordi- 
nary associations  that  can  be  imagined. 
Accordingly,  we  do  not  find,  in  the  Cal- 
vinistic  authors  generally  read,  anything 
expressive  of  the  same  sensibilities,  on 
the  same  subjects." 

Q.  What  is  the  design  of  St.  Paul's 


bishop  whitk's  OPINIONS.  1  13 

Epistle  to  the  Romans,  (the  first  eleven 
chapters  ?) 

J.  Bishop  White  says,*  "There  i 
unity  of  design  in  the  argument  of  it; 
the  Apostle  laboring  to  prove,  from  the 
Jewish  economy,  that  the  Gentiles  were 
to  be  partakers  with  the  Jews  of  the 
benefits  of  the  Christian  covenant,  with- 
out submitting  to  the  ordinances  of  the 
Levitical  Law." 

Again : 

"  Is  intended  of  them  (Jews  and  Gen- 
tiles) in  their  collective,  and  not  in  their 
individual  capacities." 

Again : 

"  Its  speaking  of  their  respective  pri- 
vileges, as  belonging  toa  state  of  coven- 
ant with  God  in  this  world  ;  and  not  to 
a  state  of  reward  and  punishment  here- 
after." 

*  Comp.  V  1.  i.  p.  A — 1 1. 


144       bishop  white's  opinions. 


Section  XXVIII. 

©f  tplatts  of    lDorsl)tp ;  %tr  Design, 
tlje  VLst  of  Jflusic,  anir  ©rnament. 

"  Remember  me,  O  my  God,  concerning  this,  and 
wipe  not  out  my  good  deeds  that  I  have  done  for  the 
House  of  my  God,  and  for  the  offices  thereof." — Nehe- 
miah  xiii.  14. 

"  If  a  man's  private  house,  wherein  he  dwelleth,  be 
decayed,  he  will  never  cease  till  it  be  restored  up 
again.  Yea,  if  his  barn,  where  he  keepeth  his  corn, 
be  out  of  reparations,  what  diligence  useth  he  to  make 
it  in  perfect  state  again  ?  If  his  stable  for  his  horse, 
yea,  the  sty  for  his  swine,  be  not  able  to  hold  out  water 
and  wind,  how  careful  is  he  to  do  cost  thereon  !  And 
shall  we  be  so  mindful  of  our  common  base  houses, 
deputed  to  so  vile  employment,  and  be  forgetful  to- 
wards that  House  of  God,  wherein  be  intreated  the 
words  of  our  eternal  salvation,  wherein  be  ministered 
the  sacraments  and  mysteries  of  our  redemption  ?  The 
fountain  of  our  regeneration  is  there  presented  unto  us. 
the  partaking  of  the  body  and  blood  of  our  Saviour 
Christ  is  there  offered  unto  us  ;  and  shall  we  not  esteem 
the  place,  where  so  heavenly  things  are  handled  ?" — 
The  Homilies,  p.  252. 

"  The  convenient  cleanness  and  ornaments  thereof." 
—  The  Homilies,  p.  239. 

Q.  What  is  our  Church's  judgment  of 
the  design  of  places  of  public  worship  ? 


bishop  white's  opinions.        145 

A.  Bishop  White  says/  "Such  cases 
(of  urgent  necessity  or  the  accomplish- 
ment of  some  great  good)  out  of  the 
question,  our  Church  judges  it  unsuitable 
to  the  design  of  a  place  of  public  wor- 
ship, and  unfavorable  to  the  affections 
which  the  being  present  in  it  should  ex- 
cite and  cherish,  to  make  use  of  it  for 
the  transacting  of  public  business,  as  for 
literary  exhibitions,  or  for  any  other 
transactions  of  a  secular  nature." 

Q.  Is  Religion  so  abstracted  as  to 
have  no  connection  with  the  senses  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "Not,  how- 
ever, that  religion  is  so  abstracted  as  to 
hare  no  connection  with  the  senses. 
Whatever  charms  the  eye  and  ear  ac- 
quireth  by  means  of  them  an  influence 
over  the  mind  :  and  God  forbid,  that 
these  avenues  should   be   shut  against 

*  Con.  Ser.  180P.  p.  17. 
f  Conv.  Ser.  1  p.  17. 

5 


146       bishop  white's  opinions. 

such  subjects  only,  as  are  the  most  wor- 
thy to  take  entire  possession  of  the 
soul." 

Q.  In  the  exercises  of  religion  should 
we  consult  ornament  as  well  as  purity  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says/  "in  the  ex- 
ercises of  religion,  we  should  consult,  not 
purity  only,  but  also  ornament." 

Q.  In  the  service  of  the  Church 
should  we  disdain  any  proper  assistance  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "She  (the 
Church)  should  disdain  no  assistance 
which  can  be  taken  from  the  experience 
and  judgment  of  past  ages,  or  from  the 
progress  of  literature,  or  even  from  the 
cultivation  of  the  finer  arts." 

Q.  Is  Music  proper  to  aid  devotion  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,t  "  Music,  not 
only  in  its  simplest  forms,  but  as  aided 


*  Con.  Ser.  1786,  p.  21. 
t  Con.  Ser.  1786,  p.  22. 
I  Ch.  Con.  Ser.  1825,  p.  20. 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  opinion-.         147 

by    mechanism,  cannot  be    improperly 

employed,  when  it  is  for  the  exercising 
of  devout  affections." 


Section  XXIX. 

(CH  tlje  Reformation,  an)  of  tlje  (Cl)urci)  of 
iirnalanb  Dunnes  since  tlje  Reformation. 

"  Ami  if  ye   will  not  be  reformed  by  rne  by  tht 
things,  but  will  walk  contrary  unto  me  j  thru  will  I  also 
walk  contrary  unto  yon,  ind  will  punish  you  yet  seven 
times  for  your  BUM. — Zm  v.  zxvi.  29,  2  1. 

M  And  in  these  our  doings  we  condemn  no  other  na- 
uor   [  any  thing  but  to  our  own  people 

only ;  for  we  think  it  convenient  that  every  country 
should  080  such  cfremoni.es  as  they  think  best  to  the 
sett  rth  of  God's  honor  and  glory,  and  to  the  re- 

ducing of  the  people  to  a  most  :  j<»dly  living, 

tout  error  or  superstition." — PrrfmtO  Ch.ofEng, 
r  />    -k. 

•   Be  left  not  himself  without  witness." — The  A< 
..  17. 

Q.  The  docunv  of  which  reign 
during  the  Reformation,  claim  a  prefer- 
ence I 


148       BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "  The  present 
speaker  never  looks  back  on  these  pe- 
riods, without  admiration  of  the  wisdom 
displayed  in  the  documents  handed 
down  from  them.  Those  of  the  former 
period  (Edward  VI.)  he  considers  as 
claiming  a  preference,  in  an  enquiry 
into  the  sense  of  the  eminent  men  who 
took  the  lead  in  the  Reformation  of  the 
Church  of  England ;  and  consequently 
into  that  of  the  institutions  framed  by 
them." 

Q.  Were  the  English  Reformers  Cal- 
vinists  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  The  sup- 
position of  the  Calvinism  of  the  Re- 
formers of  the  Church  of  England  is 
very  often  taken  for  granted,  without 
evidence  of  the  fact." 

Q.  What  is  the  characteristic  of  the 

*  Sem.  Address.  1823,  p.  14, 
f  Comp.  Views,  vol.  2.  p.  20. 


bishop  white's  opinions.       149 

most  approved  sermons  of  the  Divines 
of  the  Church  of  England  from  the  Re- 
formation ! 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "In  these  ser- 
mons, as  in  the  Articles,  in  the  Prayers 
and  Homilies  of  that  Church  itself,  there 
is  an  happy  union  of  Christian  doctrine 
and  Christian  morality  ;  equally  unlike 
to  some   sermons   in  modern  times,  as 

11  from  the  press  as  from  the  pulpit ; 
naked  of  the  former  property  and  desti- 
tute of  the  true  spirit  of  the  latter ;  and 
on  the  other  hand,  to  some  vapid  and 
short-lived  productions,  boasting  of  an 
exclusive  claim  to  gospel  preaching; 
but  rather  calculated  for  the  excitement 
of  animal  sensibility,  than  for  a  lasting 
influence  over  the  consciences  and  the 

affections." 

*  Con.  Scr.,1811,p.  25. 


150       bishop  white's  opinions. 


Section  XXX. 
<K)f  l\)t  Plow  of  C^parteir  Spirits. 

"  And  these  all,  having  obtained  a  good  report 
through  faith,  received  not  the  promise  :  God  having 
provided  some  better  thing  for  us,  that  they  without  us 
should  not  be  made  perfect." — Hebrews  xi.  39,  40. 

"  And  we  beseech  thee,  that  we,  with  all  those  who 
are  departed  in  the  true  faith  of  thy  holy  Name,  may 
have  our  perfect  consummation  and  bliss,  both  in  body 
and  soul,  in  thy  eternal  and  everlasting  glory,  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord." — First  Prayer  in  "  Burial 
of  the  Dea&P 

Q.  Mention  a  very  common  error  on 
the  state  of  the  soul  immediately  after 
death. 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  It  comes  in 
the  way  in  this  place,  to  notice  a  very 
common  error,  which  has  even  crept 
into  the  public  confessions  of  some 
Churches ;  as  if  the  beatific  vision  of 
holy  persons,  or  their  being  in  heaven, 


*  Lectures,  p.  35. 


BISHOP  WHITE'S   opinions.        151 

took  place  on  the  dissolution  of  the 
body.  This  is  not  Scriptural.  Doubt- 
less such  persons  are  in  peace;  in  some 
state  answering  to  the  figurative  terms 
of  'Paradise/  and  'Abraham's  bosom/ 
with  a  measure  of  bliss,  answering  to 
what  St.  Paul  must  have  implied,  when 
he  spoke  of  '  the  spirits  of  just  men 
made  perfect.'  Still,  they  have  not  yet 
reached  the  state  intimated  by  the  same 
Apostle,  where  he  speaks  of  being 
1  clothed  upon  with  our  house  which  is 
from  heaven.'  And  the  sentiment  here 
expressed  is  sustained  by  our  Church,  as 
in  many  places,  so  especially  when  she 
prays,  in  the  burial  service,  for  '  perfect 
consummation  and  bliss,  both  in  body 
and  in  soul.'  But  she  nowhere  speaks 
of  passing  immediately  from  this  world 
to  heaven." 


152      BISHOP  white's  opinions. 


Section  XXXI. 

©f  lUuiutg  roitl)  Professing  Christians 

(Bxtzxxov  to  %  Protestant 

(Episcopal  Ctjurdj. 

u  Can  two  walk  together,  except  they  be  agreed." — 
Amos  iii.  3. 

Q.  Is  not  disunion  the  result  of  acting 
with  spurious  liberality  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Of  all  mis- 
taken expedients  for  the  increase  of 
union,  there  cannot  be  any  one  of  them 
more  delusive  than  the  prospect  here 
contemplated;  professed  to  be  for  the 
combining  in  worship  of  bodies  of  Chris- 
tians, now  disjoined.  Instead  of  this, 
it  tends  to  the  opposite  effect  of  dividing 
our  Church,  as  existing  in  its  present 
forms ;    and,  into  how  many   separate 

*  Gen.  Theol.  Sem.,  Address,  1828,  p.  10. 


bishop  WHITER  opinions.        153 

and  perhaps  hostile  communions,  it  is 
impossible  to  for        ." 

Q.  Is  it  true  Liberality  for  Churchmen 
to  join  in  religious  irises,  when  all 
distinctive  principles  are  lost  sight  of? 

A  Bishop  White  says*,  "  It  was  ex- 
pi  d  to  be  a  specious  but  delusive 
profession  of  liberality,  inviting  us  to 
join  in  religious  exercises,  and  in  reli- 
gious instruction  whether  delivered 
orally,  or  through  the  channel  of  the 
press ;  in  which  it  is  understood,  that 
all  distinctive  principles  are  to  be  lost 
sight  of ;  and  there  is  to  be  the  sole  ob- 
ject of  regarding  truths,  on  which  the 
members  of  the  different  communions 
are  agreed." 

Q.  "What  is  Bishop  White's  opinion 
as  to  the  authority  or    consistency   of 

*  Gen.  Theol.  Sem.,  Address,  1828.  p.  1. 


154       bishop  white's  opinions. 

such  as  give  their  patronage  to  schis- 
matical  bodies  ? 

A.  Bishop  White,  speaking  of  Dr. 
Haweis,  says*,  "  There  is  propriety  in 
informing  such  readers,  that  Dr.  Haweis 
although  an  ordained  and  beneficed 
minister  of  said  Church,  (of  England) 
was  in  the  habit  of  openly  giving  his 
patronage  to  societies,  withdrawing  from 
its  communion  and  rejecting  the  obli- 
gation of  its  institutions.  By  wrhat 
process  of  reasoning  he  may  have  recon- 
ciled such  conduct  to  consistency  of 
character  and  fidelity  to  engagements, 
is  here  unknown.  The  only  reason  for 
recording  the  fact,  is  that  it  may  be  a 
protest  against  any  use  of  his  authority, 
as  that  of  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of 
England." 

*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  408.    < 


bishop  white's  opinions.        155 

Section  XXXII. 
(Pf  luminals,  (True  an)    false. 

(*  And  after  tl  [tiake  a  fire  ;  bid  the  Lord  v. 

not  in  the  fire  :  and  after  the  fire  a  .-till  mud]  voice." — 

1  Kings  xix.  12. 

"That  they  may  truly  please  thee,  pmir  upon  tliem 
the  continual  dew  of  thy  blessing." — From  the  1 

\\ 

Q.  Give  Bishop  White's  view  on  the 
subject  of  Revivals. 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "The  ex- 
pression 'revival,'  applied  to  religion, 
being  rendered  indefinite  by  the  variety 
of  forms  in  which  it  appears ;  there 
may  be  propriety,  in  the  author's  de- 
claring of  his  sense  of  the  distinction 
between  the  use  and  the  abuse  of  it. 

"  Exercises  professedly  religious,  but, 
manifesting  less  either  of  the  operation 
of  the  intellectual  faculty,  or  of  affections 
marked  by  the  acknowledged  graces  of 

*  Gen.  Theo.  Sem.  Add:         1828,  p.  18;  19,  note. 


156       bishop  white's  opinions, 

the  Gospel,  than  of  the  excitement  ot 
animal  organization,  and  extended  prin- 
cipally by  the  power  of  sympathy,  are 
not  here  understood  under  the  term  In 
question. 

"In  the  New  Testament,  there  are 
records  of  occasions,  when,  from   the 
concurrence  of  favorable  circumstances, 
there   issued    excitements  of    religious 
sensibility  and  of  disposition  to  religious 
inquiry,  without  the  notice  of  any  such 
accompanyment :  as  when  the  Baptist 
addressed  the  crowds  attendant  on  his 
ministry:  as  when  our  Saviour  delivered 
to  a  concourse  of  people  his  Sermon  on 
the  Mount ;  as  when  he  worked  a  mi- 
raculous provision  for  the  five  thousand; 
and,   as  wThen  on  the  preaching  of  St. 
Peter,  there  were  added  to  the  Church 
about  three  thousand  souls.     If,  in  exer- 
cises so  different  from  any  thing  found 
in  these  instances  there  are  to  be  con- 


bishop  white's  opinions.       167 

fessed  the  outpourings  of  the  Spirit ;  the 
Christian  Church  must  surrender  the 
Ministry   and  the  Sacraments;    which 

have  been  denied  under  such  display 
as  those  referred  to,  and  must  be  dis- 
tracted by  contrary  views  of  the  doc- 
trines of  grace ;  each  of  opposite  sides 
setting  up  the  plea  of  an  outpouring  of 
the  Spirit ;  so  different  from  the  effusion 
noticed  in  Scripture,  which  was  to  guide 
to  all  truth.  Further,  if,  under  such  in- 
fluences, there  be  disregard  of  the  doing 
of  all  things  decently  and  in  order ;  es- 
pecially, in  the  Episcopal  Church,  if 
there  be  the  introduction  of  self-consti- 
tuted Ministers,  in  violation  of  her  pro- 
hibition; or  if,  in  congregations  under 
her  own  Ministers,  whether  in  Church* 
or  elsewhere,  her  services  are  superse- 
ded by  devotions  not  recognized  in  her 
institutions,  to  the  neglect  of  those  pre- 


158       bishop  white's  opinions. 

scribed  by  her ;  these  are  cases,  which 
the  address  was  not  designed  to  favor. 

"  Independently  on  these  and  on  all 
other  disorders,  there  arises,  sometimes 
in  a  particular  neighborhood,  and  some- 
times pervading  a  community,  increased 
attention  to  those  spiritual  interests, 
which  ought  at  all  times  to  be  the  near- 
est to  the  affection.  In  the  excitement 
of  this,  there  is  to  be  confessed  the 
operation  of  the  Spirit  of  grace,  and,  so 
far  as  religious  affections  and  holy  con- 
duct may  be  the  result,  they  are  what 
the  Scriptures  call  his  fruit ;  while  any 
extravagances  which  may  accompany 
them  are  resolvable  into  human  weak- 
ness ;  and  are  in  danger,  from  the  ne- 
glect of  prayer,  and  of  watchfulness  over 
the  movements  of  the  mind,  of  resulting 
in  a  species  of  profession,  which  is  not 
an  adorning  of  the  doctrines  of  our  God 


BISHOP  WHITE'S  opinions.         1  "5 9 

and  Saviour  ;  and  which  even  weakens 
the  hold  of  moral  obligation  on  the  con- 
science. 

Phe  improvement  of  any  such  seasons 

erf  grace  as  these  referred  to,  was  in- 
tended to  be  impressed  on  the  minds  of 
the  graduates  and  pupils." 


Section  XXXIII. 
(Df  tlje  Solemnisation  of  illarrtaqc. 

'•  This  i<  a  great  mystery;  but  I  speak  concerning 
Christ  and  the  Church."' — E\  h.  v.  32. 

Q.  What  was  Bishop  White's  opinion 
a^  tp  the  duty  of  a  Minister  in  solemni- 
zing a  marri  ,  under  given  circum- 
stances ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "The  sup- 
position   is  as  follows:  there  exists  no 


\:i  Opinion,  &c,  p.  13. 


160       BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

legal  impediment  to  the  marriage :  one 
of  the  parties  at  least,  belongs  to  the 
congregation  of  the  Minister  applied  to 
for  solemnization :  also,  one  of  them 
labors  under  the  apparently  just  imputa- 
tion of  very  faulty  conduct ;  while  the 
other  has  respectable  connexions,  who 
must  be  supposed  to  be  greatly  distressed 
by  the  proposed  alliance.  It  is  further 
supposed,  that  neither  of  the  parties  is 
either  intoxicated  or  insane;  and  that 
there  is  no  reason  to  suspect  the  latter 
in  any  such  sense,  as  is  a  disqualification 
for  civil  contracts  generally.  The  ques- 
tion is — should  the  Minister  applied  to 
solemnize  the  marriage  ?  In  the  above, 
the  degree  of  misconduct  in  one  of  the 
parties  is  not  defined.  The  reason  is, 
that  in  the  ensuing  discussion,  the  argu- 
ment will  apply  whatever  the  degree 
may  be. 

"  There  appears  to  me — and  if  a  mis- 


BISHOP  white's  opinions.       161 

take,  it  has  attended  me  through  the 
long  course  of  my  ministry — that  under 
the  circumstances  stated,  the  Minister 
is  not  left  to  his  discretion,  but  is  bound 
to  join  the  parties  in  marriage." 


Section  XXXIV 

(Df  u  Unbosoming   of   tljc  ftlini)"    to   a 

iUinistcr. 

"  If  there  be  any  of  you,  who  by  these  means  cannot 
quiet  his  own  conscience  herein,  but  requireth  further 
comfort  or  counsel ;  let  him  come  to  me,  or  to  some 
other  Minister  of  God's  word,  and  open  his  grief.'1 — 
From  tlie  Exhortation  in  the  lhdy  Communion  Office, 

"  Confess  your  faults  one  to  another," — St,  James 
v.  1 

Q.  Does  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  esteem  "the  unbosoming  of  the 
Blind"  to  a  Minister  disallowable  ? 

A,  Bishop  White  says,*  "The  pro- 

*  Remarks  on  Experience,  &c.  for  Chris.  Jour.,  1819. 


162       bishop  white's  opinions. 

priety  of  it,  where  occasion  may  require, 
is  involved  in  the  nature  of  the  Gospel 
ministry;  and  is  recognized  in  one  of 
the  exhortations  to  the  Communion  to- 
wards the  end.  It  is  also  implicit  in  the 
examination  prescribed  to  the  Minister 
in  the  Visitation  of  the  Sick." 

Q.  Ought  such  "  unbosoming"  be  kept 
secret  by  the  Clergy  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  expe- 
riences of  the  inward  man  maybe  some- 
times profitably  disclosed,  with  a  view 
to  counsel  or  to  comfort ;  but  it  should 
be  under  the  veil  of  secrecy." 

Q.  Should  the  Minister  be  qualified 
for  such  disclosures  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  A  Minister 
of  the  Gospel  ought  to  be  so  qualified, 
as  that  the  mind  may  be  unburdened  to 
him." 


*  Remarks  on  Experience,  1819. 
t  Remarks  on  Experience,  1819. 


BISHOP  white's  opjnions.         163 

Q.  Do  we  deny  the  utility  of  "  re- 
course" to  Pastors  by  their  people  fur 
the  easing  of  coi         nee  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  While  the 
Protestant  Churches  deny  the  duty  of 
confession,  as  maintained  by  the  Church 
of  Rome,  they  do  not  deny  the  utility 
of  recourse  to  be  had  by  believers  to 
their  pastors,  for  the  easing  of  the  con- 
science of  any  pressing  burdens,  and  for 
the  clearing  of  doubts  and  difficulties ; 
and  hence  an  invitation  to  that  effect  in 
one  of  the  exhortations  to  the  commu- 
nion, in  the  Liturgy  of  this  Church.  It 
is  indeed  one  of  the  most  important  uses 

of  the  ministerial  office." 

< 

*  Lecture^  p.  45. 


164       bishop  white's  opinions. 

Section  XXXV. 

©f  %  tarns  "  total  flutg,"  antr  "  total 
(Btofelttttf*/*  emir  "  donD^rsion." 

"Avoiding  profane  and  vain  babblings,  and  oppositions 
of  science  falsely  so  called." — 1  Tim.  vi.  20. 

Q.  Is  the  phrase  "  vital  piety"  tauto « 
logical  ? 

^4.  Bishop  White  says,*  "There  is 
tautology  in  the  phrase  '  vital  godli- 
ness.5 " 

Q.  Is  the  phrase  evangelical  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  saysf,  "  What  can 
have  been  the  origin  of  the  unevangelical 
term  in  question  ?" 

Q.  Is  there  an  erroneous  notion  some- 
times attached  to  the  term  "  conver- 
sion ?" 

A.    Bishop  White  says,J    "  Nothing 

*  Remarks  in  Chris.  Jour.,  1820. 

f  Ibid. 

I  Comp.  Views,  vol.  ii.  p.  113. 


bishop  white's  opinions.       1G5 

m  be  wider  of  the  sentiment  intended 
(in  the  13th  Article,)  than  the  fancy 
entertained  by  many,  relative  to  bap- 
tized persons  of  a  Christian  education, 
that  in  succeeding  life,  there  must  be  a 
critical  moment  of  conversion ;  previ- 
ously to  which,  all  they  do,  not  except- 
ing their  very  prayers,  are  strictly  speak- 
ing sins.  If  this  be  a  correct  idea,  the 
whole  system  of  the  Church  must  be 
radically  erroneous,  as  will  be  shown  in 
the  proper  place.  But  if,  as  the  Church 
presumes,  all  who  are  fit  subjects  of 
baptism,  and  have  received  it,  are  therein 
made  Christ's,  by  a  grace  given  to  them 
in  the  transaction ;  all  wrorks  done  by 
them,  as  the  Gospel  has  commanded, 
are  good,  not  only  formally,  but  as  to 
their  principle." 

Q.  What  is  the  origin  of  the  "un- 
evangelical  term"  vital  godliness  ? 


166       bishop  white's  opinions. 

A.  Bishop  White  says*,  "With  all 
due  allowance  for  those  who  use  it  from 
habit,  begun  they  know  not  how;  and 
for  others,  who  use  it  without  thought 
as  to  its  precise  meaning ;  the  avowed 
patrons  of  it  have  something  to  incul- 
cate, extraneous  to  any  state  of  mind 
included  in  Scripture  under  the  simple 
term  c  godliness.'  Hence  they  are  led, 
perhaps  unconsciously,  to  fill  up  the 
phrase  answerably  to  their  own  ideas. 
What  is  this  extraneous  matter  ?  It  is 
a  species  of  animal  sensibility,  of  which 
a  man  may  possess  much  without  reli- 
gious affections ;  although  doubtless,  the 
principles  may  be  associated  in  the 
same  mind." 

Q.  May  not  such  sentiments  as  those 
contained  in  the  foregoing  answers 
be  considered  wanting  in  spirituality  ? 

*  Remarks  in  Chris.  Jour.,  1820. 


■raov  white's  opinions.      1G7 

A*  Bishop  White  rays/ "It   is   not 
here  unattended  to,  that  the  sentiments 

delivered  would  be  considered  b]   some 

estimable  persons,  as  indieative  of  reli- 

ious  views  void  of  spirituality-     There 

would  be  a  breach  of  duty  in  declining, 

on  that  account,   to  speak  agreeably  to 

the  Word  of  Truth  ;  and  it  ought  to  be 
held  'a  light  thing,  to  be  judged  of 
man's  judgment.'  Of  the  kind  o(  animal 
sensibility  faulted,  there  is  no  example 
in  the  New  Testament ;  nor  in  the  Old ; 
unless  in  the  devotions  of  those  wor- 
shippers of  Baal,  whom  the  prophet 
Elijah  ridiculed ;  counselling  them  to 
1  cry  aloud,'  lest  their  God  should  be 
'journeying.'  or  pursuing,  or  asleep  and 
to  be  awaked." 

Q.    What  is  the  meaning  of   "  con- 
vert," and  "  conversion  I" 

*  Remarks  in  Chris.  Jour.,  1820. 


168        BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  words 
c  convert/  '  converted/  and  '  convert- 
ing/ are  used,  altogether,  four  times  in 
the  New  Testament,  and  never  to  ex- 
press any  other  sentiments,  than  the 
retrieving  or  the  being  retrieved  from 
sin  fallen  into,  in  violation  of  the  dis- 
pensation under  which  the  parties  were." 

Q.  What  does  our  Church  demand 
from  baptized  persons  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,|  "  From  bap- 
tized persons,  our  Church  demands  no 
other  conversion,  than  that  which  is 
from  a  state  of  sin,  if  they  have  unhap- 
pily fallen  into  it." 

Q.  Does  the  Church  avoid  calling  the 
Lord's  day  the  Sabbath  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,t  "  Here  (Col. 
ii.   16)   the    Sabbath  is   considered   as 


*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  ii.  p.  304. 
j-  Lectures,  p.  14. 
X  Lectures,  p.  64. 


■SHOP    WHITES  OPINIONS.         169 

falling  with  the  whole  body  of  the  ritual 
law  of  Moses.  And  this  may  show  the 
ison,  on  which  our  Church  avoids 
the  calling  of  her  day  of  public  worship 
— '  the  Sabbath.'  It  is  never  so  call 
in  the  New  Testament:  and  in  the  prim- 
itive Church,  the  term  ■  Sabbatizing,' 
carried  with  it  the  reproach  of  a  leaning 
to  the  abrogated  observances  of  the  law." 


Section  XXXVI. 
(Df  tl)c  (General  (Lljelogical  Seminary. 

11  thy  children  Jiall  h         Jit  of  the  Lord: 
and  _  dl  be  the  e  of  thv  children. v — Isa 

liv.  1 

Q.  Give  Bishop   White's  opinion  of 
the  General  Theological  Seminary, 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "To  what- 


*  Gen.  Theol.  Sem.  Address,  1829,  p.  17. 


170       bishop  white's  opinions. 

ever  further  period  there  may  be  a 
lengthening  of  his  life,  he  believes  that 
the  end  of  it,  happen  when  it  may,  will 
find  him  cherishing  this  Institution  (the 
General  Theological  Seminary)  in  his 
regards ;  and  in  proportion  to  what 
may  remain  of  strength  of  mind  and  of 
body,  zealously  laboring  for  its  success.5' 


Section  XXXVII. 
Bisljop  £)obart,  <*uir  of  ^Irdjbtsljop  Ccmir. 

"  Being  destitude  afflicted,  tormented ;  of  whom  the 
world  was  not  worthy." — Heb.  xi.  37,  38. 

Q.  What  was  Bishop  White's  opin- 
ion of  Bishop  Hobart  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "There  is 
expressed  peculiar  satisfaction  in  the 
admission  to  the  Episcopacy  of  a  Bro- 

*  Con.  Ser.,  1811,  p.  30,  31. 


bishop  white's  OPINIONS.        171 

ther  (Rev.  J.  II.  Ilobart,  D.D.,)  known 
in  Ills  infancy,  in  his  boyhood,  in  his 
youth,  and  in  his  past  labors  in  the 
ministry,  to  him  who  is  to  he  the  prin- 
cipal agent  in  the  reception  of  him  to 
the  Episcopacy. 

"  There  are  not  likely  to  be  any  with- 
in these  walls,  who  have  had  such  am- 
ple opportunity  of  judging  of  the  rever- 
end person  now  referred  to,  as  to  real 
character  and  disposition.  And  his  or- 
dainer  can  with  truth  declare,  that  he 
shall  discharge  the  duty  on  wThich  he  is 
soon  to  enter,  with  the  most  sanguine 
prospects  as  to  the  issue.  This  is  said, 
without  the  remotest  idea  of  a  compari- 
son with  any  other ;  but  merely  on  ac- 
count of  a  longer  and  more  intimate  ac- 
quaintance. And  perhaps,  what  is  now 
announced,  may  not  be  altogether  with- 
out a  reference  to  self;  although — it  is 
fcrusted — not  operating   in  a  faulty  line. 


172      bishop  white's  opinions. 

For  whether  it  be  the  infirmity  of  an  ad- 
vance in  years,  or,  as  is  rather  hoped, 
an  interest  taken  in  the  future  prosperity 
of  the  Church ;  there  is  cherished  a 
satisfaction  in  the  recollection  of  coun- 
sels formerly  given  to  one  who  is  in 
future  to  be  a  colleague ;  who  may,  in 
the  common  course  of  affairs,  be  expect- 
ed to  survive ;  and  through  whom,  there 
may  accordingly  be  hoped,  to  be  some 
small  measure  of  usefulness,  when  he  who 
gave  those  counsels  shall  be  no  more." 
Again,  Bishop  White  says,*  "  To  one 
who  has  been  a  witness  of  his  merits  in 
his  boyhood,  in  his  youth,  and  in  his 
maturity,  there  could  not  but  be  caused 
sympathy,  by  the  sickness  which  has 
carried  him  from  his  family,  from  the 
Seminary,  and  from  his  Church.  To  all 
these  relations  we  hope  in  a  gracious 

*  Gen.  Theo.  Sem.  Address,  18242  p.  14. 


BIgBOP  WHITE'S  OPINIONS.  173 

Providence  for  his  restoration  ;  and,  in 
no  one  is  this  desire  more  sincere  than  in 
him  who,  in  consequence  of  the  request 
of  the  learned  Professors  of  the  Institu- 
tion, has  been  delivering  an  address  on 
this  occasion." 

Again,  Bishop  White  says,*  "It  will 
easily  be  believed,  that  the  duty  of  the 
day  cannot  have  been  discharged  with- 
out the  temlerest  recollection  of  a  friend 
for  whom  there  has  been  cherished  an 
affection  from  his  very  early  years. 
With  the  grief  occasioned  by  his  de- 
cease, there  is  the  consoling  recollec- 
tion of  the  virtues,  and  of  the  services 
which  embalm  his  memory  in  the  esti- 
mation of  his  friends,  of  the  Churches 
which  have  been  under  his  superinten- 
dence, of  our  Church  generally,  through- 
out the  Union,  and  of  that  large  portion 

*  Add.  at  Bishop  B.  T.OV.  Consi-e.  p,   I 


174       BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

of  society  who  knew  him  only  as  a  man, 
as  a  fellow-citizen,  and  as  a  Christian 
minister,  exterior  to  their  respective 
pales." 

Q,  Was  it  Bishop  White's  opinion 
that  Archbishop  Laud  was  likely  to  be- 
come a  Roman  Catholic  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  writer 

of  this  is  convinced,  that  no  man  in 

England  was  less  likely  to  become  a 

Roman     Catholic,     than     Archbishop 

Laud." 

Q.  What  does  Bishop  White  say  of 

his  "  lenient  censure  "  on  Archbishop 
Laud? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  The  author 
is  aw^are,  that  this  lenient  censure  on 
the  Archbishop  will  be  thought  far 
short  of  his  demerits,  by  persons  adopt- 
ing the  opinions  of  those  writers,  who  re- 

*  Com.  Views,  vol.  ii.  p.  186. 
t  Com.  Views,  Vol/ii.  p.  188. 


BISHOP  WHITO'fl  OPINIONS.  17o 

present  as  an  high  crime  in  this  prelate, 

what  they  hold  Tenia] — perhaps*  duty — 
in  Cranmer,  in  Calvin,  and  in  the  very 

enemies  of  Archbishop  Laud,  as  soon  as 
they  got  a  taste  of  the  sweets  of  power." 


Section   XXXVIII. 
(Df  tCcrtaiif  Books; 

REAL'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  PURITANS,  MOSHEIM^ 
ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY^,  SCOTPS  COMMEN- 
TARY, AND  1»<»VLV  ft  MANTS  COMMEN- 
TARY, MlLNT.R'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN 
CHURCH,  DR.  HAWEIS1  HISTORY  OF  THE 
CHRISTIAN   CHURCH,  AND  OF MR.  TOPLADY. 

fteloved.  believe  not  every  spirit,  but  try  fte  Bpil 
whether  they  are  of  God  :  because  many  (kin  propheta 

are  Lrone  out  into  the  world." — 1  John,  iv.  1. 

Q.  What  is  the  character  of  Dr. 
Neil'fl  History  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  The  His- 
tory of  Daniel  Neal  has  been  especially 

*  Gen.  Theo.  Sem.  Addms,  1823.  note,  p.  15. 


176      bishop  white's  opinions. 

instrumental  in  giving  erroneous  views 
of  the  transactions  of  which  he  wrote. 
The  corrections  of  it  are  by  Bishop 
Maddox,  as  regards  the  reign  of  Queen 
Elizabeth;  and  by  Dr.  Zachary  Grey, 
for  the  succeeding  times." 

Again  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Daniel 
Neale's  History  of  the  Puritans — a  popu- 
lar work  among  Anti-Episcopalians  in 
the  United  States ;  it  will  be  to  the  pur- 
pose to  give  a  few  specimens  of  his  in- 
numerable misrepresentations ." 

Q.  What  is  the  character  of  Dr.  Mo- 
sheim's  Ecclesiastical  History  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  The  cele- 
brated work  of  Dr.  Mosheim,  is  among 
the  books  recommended  by  the  House 
of  Bishops,  to  those  who  are  preparing 
for  Holy  Orders ;  but  with  the  direction, 
to  take  along  with  it  certain  other  histo- 

*  Essay  in  Christian  Journal,  April  3.  1818. 
t  Ibid. 


bishop  white's  opinions.        177 

rival  books,  relatively  to  the  Church  of 
England.  It  is  proposed  to  show  the 
ground  of  this  qualification.93 

Q.  What  is  Bishop  White's  opinion 
of  Scott's  Commentary  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Another 
Commentary,  that  of  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Scott,  has  been  received  by  many  of  the 
members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  under 
the  impression,  that  it  is  agreeable  to 
her  views  of  the  leading  doctrines  of 
Christianity.  To  prove,  that  in  regard 
to  some  of  them  this  is  not  a  fact,  is  the 
design  of  the  present  address." 

Again  Bishop  White  says,f  "  It  is  in- 
tended to  prove,  concerning  the  Rev.  T. 
Scott  that  under  every  one  of  the  points 
contained  in  what  is  called  the  Quin- 
quarticular  (i.  e.  Calvinistic)  contro- 
versy, he  has  taught  what  is  either  be- 

*  Remarks  on  the  Com.  in  Ch.  R  b.  18^ 

t  Ibid. 


178       BISHOP  white's  opinions. 

yond  or  in  contrariety  to  the  Doctrines 
of  the  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  minis- 
ter." 

Q.  What  is  Bishop  White's  opinion 
of  D'Oyly  and  Mant's  Commentary  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "In  that 
work  the  notes  are  not  the  suggestions 
of  the  editors,  but  are  generally  taken 
from  the  writings  of  the  most  celebrat- 
ed Divines  of  their  Church,  from  the  re- 
formation to  the  present  time." 

Q.  Give  Bishop  White's  opinion  of 
Dr.  Haweis,  a  Calvinistic  clergymen  of 
the  Church  of  England,  and  author  of  a 
work  called  "  An  History  of  the  Chris- 
tion  Church  ?" 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  It  has  been 
remarked  of  Dr.  Haweis,  that  however 
prejudiced  against  some  Fathers  of  the 
Church,  celebrated   by   her  in  all  the 

*  Remarks  on  the  Com.  inCh.  Register,  Feb,  1826. 
f  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  417. 


bishop  white's  opinions,       179 

ages  succeeding  them,  lie  possessed 
abundance  of  a  singular  kind  of  charity, 
in  supposing  piety  to  abound  in  hereti- 
cal and  schismatical  communions,  even 
where  there  were  no  documents  in  his 
3  ipport." 

Q.  What  is  Bishop  White's  opinion 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Toplady  (the  author  of  His- 
tory of  Calvinism  ?) 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  Mr.  Top- 
lady'  zeal,  however,  is  supposed  by  the 
writer  of  this,  to  have  carried  him  to  a 
length  of  torture  of  the  scraps  taken 
from  these  Fathers,  which  is  not  here 
recollected  to  have  been  found  in  any 
'her  author." 

Q.  What  is  Bishop  White's  opinion 
>f  Rev.  Joseph  Milner's  History  of  the 
Christian  Church? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,f  "  Like  the  two 

*  Comp.  View.-,  vol.  i.  p.  403. 
t  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  416. 


180      bishop  white's  opinions. 

authors  above  mentioned  (viz.  Toplady 
and  Haweis,)  he  (Milner)  is  a  Calvinist; 
and  although  not  so  intolerant  as  they 
in  reference  to  opposite  opinion,  never 
finds  Christian  doctrine  in  its  integrity, 
except  in  alliance  with  Calvinism,  or  in 
what  he  thinks  he  perceives  the  com- 
plexion of  that  theory." 


Section   XXXIX. 
©f  t{)e  Cjeatljttt. 

u  For  when  the  Gentiles,  which  have  not  the  law, 
do  by  nature  the  things  contained  in  the  law,  these 
having  not  the  law,  are  a  law  unto  themselves." — Ro- 
mans ii.  14. 

Q.  Is  any  part  of  the  human  race 
placed,  by  the  condition  of  their  birth, 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  mercy  of  God, 
through  Christ  ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "  It  is  here 

*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  120. 


bishop  white's  opinions.         181 

thought  a  r       nable  conclusion   from 
the  premises,  that  no  part  of  the  human 

race  are  placed,    by   the    condition  of 
their   birth,    1       ml  th  h  of  the 

mercy  of  Gop,  through  Christ.     Inre- 
ird  to  the  heathen  we  may  properly 

:'  them,  as  being  left  to  the  un- 
covenanted  mercies  of  God." 

Q.  Is  the  hope  that  God  extends  his 
mercy  to  the  virtuous  heathen  Scrip- 
tural ? 

A.  Bishop  White  says,*  "It  is  a  con- 
spicuous truth  of  Holy  Scripture." 

*  Comp.  Views,  vol.  i.  p.  106. 


"  These  properties  of  our  system,  in 
Doctrine,  in  Discipline  and  in  Worship, 
which  in  the  Sixteenth  Century  were 
cleared  from  superstition  by  the  Leaders 
in  the  English  Reformation, were  brought 
to  the  Colonies  by  the  early  emigrants 
of  the  Church  of  England,  were  recog- 
nized by  us  in  the  organization  of  our 
American  Church,  and,  under  the  influ- 
ence of  the  grace  of  God,  have  been 
persevered  in  by  us  to  the  present  day." 

— Extract  from  Bishop  White's  Address  on  laying 
the  corner  stone  of  the  Gen.  Theo.  Sem.,  1825. 


CONTEXTS. 


v 
■YF.RTlSKMKNT,  -  -  7 

I.  Of  Original  Sin,           -  lJ 

"            II.  Of  the  Plan  of  Salvation,     -  13 

III.  Of  Good  Works,           .  15 

IV.  Of  Evangelism,  and   Evan- 
gelical Preaching,    -  17 

V.  Of  the  Bibli  .       I  the  n  lation 

of  the  Church  to  the  Bibl<       90 
"  VI.  Of  the    Early   Fathers   and 

Trad;:;  tn,         -  -     30 

u         VII.  Of  the  term  Catholic  j  and 

of*  tlic   fii  ur  General 

Councils,  and  ofthe  uQuod 
semper  tobique  omnibus" 
of  Vinoentiua.  -  46 

VIII.   Oftlie  Church,    -  -     ■ 

IX.    Of  Ivfi>< ■•  -  .")  1 

X.  Of  Apostolical  Succession,       62 
XL  Of  Schism, 

XII.   Of  Charity, 


ii 


184  CONTENTS. 

Page 

Section         XIII.  Of  Spurious  Liberality,       80 
XIV.  Of  the  Sacraments,         -     84 
XV.  Of  Baptismal  Regenera- 
tion,     -  -  86 
XVI.  Of  Frequent  Communion,     94 
"             XVII.  Of  the  use  of  a  Prothesis, 

or  Side  Table,  for  the 

Eucharistic  Elements,      96 

XVIII.  Of  Catechising,  -     97 

XIX.  Of  Forms  of  Prayer,  99 

XX.  Of  the  Prayer  Book.  103 

XXI.  Of  Daily  Prayer  in  the 

Church,        -  -  107 

XXII.  Of  Holy  Days  and  their 

Observance,  -  112 

XXIII.  Of  the    Object  of  Reli- 
gious Assemblies,   and 
of  Novelty  in  Sermons,  115 
"  XXIV.  Of  Insubordination    and 

Irregularity,         -  121 

"  XXV.  Of  Education  on  Church 

Principles,   -  -   129 

XXVI.  Of  the  XXXIX  Articles,    130 
XXVII.   Of  Calvinism,  -  135 

"       XXVIII.  Of  Places  of    Worship  ; 

their  Design,  the  use  of 
Music,  and  Ornament,     144 


a 
it 

« 

a 


[ITS,  185 

\  \l\.  Of  the  Reformation,  and 
the  Church  of  England 
Divi  the  B 

tnation,  -  147 

«  XXX.  Of  thtPlaoepf  Departed 

-   150 

"  XXXI.  Of  Uniting  with  Profil- 

ing Christiana    Exte- 
rior  to  the  Protestant 

Episcopal  Church,     -  152 

"  XXXII.  Of  Revivals,  True  and 

F  -  155 

"         XX XI II.  Of  the  Solemnization  of 

Marriage,  -  -  159 

XXXIV.  Of  "  Unbosoming  of  the 

Mind*'   to  a  Minister,      161 

"  XXXV.  Of  the  Terms  "  Vital  Pi- 

"    "Vital    Godli- 
"  Conversion," 
and  the  "Sabbath,"       164 

«        X  \  \  VI.  Of  the  General  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,    -  169 
XXXVII.  Of  Archbishop  Laud  :  of 

Bishop  Ilobart.  170 


(( 


186  CONTENTS. 


Paga 


Section  XXXVIII.  Of  Certain  Books,  e.  g., 

Neale's  History  of  the 
Puritans,  Mosheim's 
Ecclesiastical  History, 
Scott's  Commentary, 
and  D'Oyly  &  Mant's 
Commentary,  Milner's 
History  of  the  Christian 
Church,  Dr.  Haweis* 
History  of  theChristian 
Church,  and  of  Mr- 
Toplady,  -  175 

«       XXXIX  Of  the  Heathen,  180 


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